India will commence their Test series against South Africa with the Boxing Day encounter at Centurion. They will hope to select the best possible XI before the game. Here are some selection questions that will be on mind of the team management.

How do India balance the side?

The very first question that India would need to decide on will be as to whether they go ahead with six batters, one keeper and a bowler or five batters, one keeper, and five bowlers – one of whom can preferably bat well. The advantage of the former is that it allows them to fit an extra batter which can help boost up their middle-order which has given ordinary results of late, while the latter option allows them to go ahead with someone like Shardul Thakur at No.7, a player who can turn around games with his skills in either discipline.

Who partners KL Rahul?

While KL Rahul’s rise in the Test format ensures that he is all set to open the Test innings in South Africa, the injury to Rohit Sharma has ensured that India will be going in with a new opening combination yet again. Although some might see Mayank Agarwal as a front-runner in this race, there is still the option of Priyank Panchal, or perhaps sending one of the middle-order batters up to try out different combinations.

Do India stick with Rahane?

Apart from the skipper Virat Kohli, and perhaps Cheteshwar Pujara to an extent, none of the other middle-order options are a certainty to start in the playing XI. Hanuma Vihari impressed yet again for India A in South Africa, Shreyas Iyer scored a mature hundred on his debut, while Ajinkya Rahane, though his numbers have been unimpressive for wrong, has a stellar record in South Africa. The question for the team management is to decide between backing Rahane yet again for his experience, or getting in a new player to do the job. Obviously, things will be slightly easier if they decide to go in with six batters, but one of these will still fail to make the playing XI.

Who will be India’s third-choice seamer?

Another question which might become easier to answer if India decide on a four-man attack, it is an important query nevertheless. While Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah look likely to lead the line, there is a tough decision to be made over the other quicks. The experienced Ishant Sharma’s recent numbers have been decent but haven’t particularly stood out, whereas Mohammed Siraj has ensured that he delivered both at home and away. What seems to stand against Ishant is his age, but one never knows if there’s life in the old pacer yet. At his best, the Delhi bowler can rival India’s best fast bowlers.

And then there’s Umesh Yadav, who showed how incisive he can be on any track against New Zealand, and Shardul Thakur, who offers value with the bat and has a knack of making telling contributions.

The spin question

Ideally injuries to Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel should have ensured that R Ashwin will take his place in the line up, but nothing should be taken for granted given the fact that the India management dropped him for four Tests in a row in England. Jayant Yadav is the other option, but has zero Test experience away from home. There’s also a possibility that the India captain might play all four pacers if the wicket is greener than usual (or even otherwise), with Hanuma Vihari’s part-time spin coming into the equation.