Aakash Chopra: Virat Must Play Mishra & Hashim Amla Should Bat Up

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has a few tips for the two skippers ahead of the third India-SA Test in Nagpur.

Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay attend a practice session in Nagpur. (Photo: PTI)

• Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra previews the Nagpur Test for the Quint.
• Hashim Amla’s form is a big cause for concern for the South Africans.
  
• The visitors should shuffle their batting order. Hashim Amla should bat up the order.
• India must play Amit Mishra instead of Stuart Binny.

Mohali not only gave India the ideal start to the series but also the requisite momentum. While the washout in Bengaluru did dampen the Indian spirits a little, a dry turner dished out in Nagpur shall lift them again. South Africa is yet to bat more than 68 overs in this Test series and that shows how Test cricket exposes the chinks that are easily hidden in shorter formats.

The same South African batsmen looked at ease in both T20 and ODI but the presence of close-in fielders and a slightly spinner-friendly pitch has shown their vulnerability.

Amla-The Batsman

The last time when South Africa played a Test match at Nagpur, Hashim Amla scored 253 and set up an easy win for his team. Amla hasn’t really turned up for this Freedom Series (T20, ODI and now, Tests) and his poor form has finally caught up with his team’s fortunes. While South Africa managed without him firing in the limited-overs format, the lack of runs from his blade is hurting their chances in Tests.

Hashim Amla has had a horror series so far. (Photo: AP)

He’s one of the few South Africans who knows how to tackle spin and also, has the ability to bat for long hours. For the visitors to maintain their enviable away record intact (SA hasn’t lost an away series in the last 9 years), Amla will have to come to his own in this Test.

AB de Villiers seems to be the only batsman comfortable in Indian conditions in the visitors camp. (Photo: AP)

Change The Order

Faf Du Plessis has had a horrid Test series (1 run in three innings) thus far and therefore there’s an urgent need for South Africa to shuffle their batting order. Since the two openers Elgar and Van Zyl aren’t posing a great threat to the Indians, it’s imperative to put your best batsman at 3. While Amla’s form is a concern, he still remains their best bet for Tests, and hence should push himself up the order.

Amla at three in turn will allow De Villiers to bat at 4 and that will give him more time to control the game. As for now, DeVilliers is forced to bat with the tail for too long, and there’s only so much you can do alone. Duminy and Du Plessis can occupy 5 and 6 respectively.

Amit Mishra should be given a opportunity in the third Test. (Photo: AP)

India Must Play Mishra

Even though only a day’s play took place in Bengaluru, it was enough to suggest that Binny is a poor choice as a seam-bowling all-rounder in India. India were fortunate that South Africa, once again, bundled out cheaply or else the absence of Mishra would’ve been sorely felt on the first day itself.

Since it’s a dry-turner in Nagpur, it’s a no-brainer to go back to playing three spinners and spin a web around circumspect South African batsmen. I have a strong feeling that Gurkeerat Mann might make his Test debut as a fifth bowler too.

While you can’t argue with the intent to play five bowlers, it’ll be interesting to see how the fourth spinner can be utilized properly. Not to forget that spinners not only like bowling long spells but also must get that opportunity to plot a dismissal. So far, Kohli has given really short spells to his spinners in this series and the presence of a fourth spinner might result in bowlers having shorter spells.