India's Test Future: Sudharsan & Padikkal to Debut?

Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Saba Karim has proposed a strategic shift for India's crucial second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. He advocates for the inclusion of emerging talents Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal in the playing XI, alongside a strong batting lineup of six specialist batsmen. This comes after India's unexpected 30-run loss in the first Test, where the pitch conditions in Kolkata proved challenging.

The team will be led by Rishabh Pant, as regular captain Shubman Gill has been sidelined with a neck injury sustained during the previous match. Karim's suggested combination emphasizes batting depth, potentially requiring the exclusion of all-rounder Axar Patel to accommodate variations in the bowling attack, which would include spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, complemented by two pace bowlers.

Karim also highlighted the importance of batting order composition, suggesting Dhruv Jurel could be moved up to manage right-left combinations if needed. India desperately needs a victory in Guwahati to avoid a home series defeat, making this Test a critical encounter for the squad's morale and future strategy.