It is never easy to win in the Indian conditions. The Virat Kohli-led side is the number one side in the Test fold and they are more lethal in their own conditions. The South African team has not been able to put up a fight against India in the ongoing Test series.
Consequently, former South African captain Graeme Smith and former Indian batsman VVS Laxman came up with a combined team which can challenge India in home conditions.
It is a potent side.
Graeme Smith and VVS Laxman selected Dean Elgar and Tamim Iqbal as their openers. Elgar had scored a fine century in the first innings of the first Test at Visakhapatnam whereas Tamim Iqbal has good experience of playing in the sub-continent conditions.
Smith and Laxman, who are doing commentary for the ongoing series selected New Zealand captain Kane Williamson as their number three batsman. Laxman and Smith picked former Australian captain Steven Smith to bat at number four. Steven Smith has been in sublime form and he had scored 774 runs in the Ashes series.
Pakistan newly appointed T20I captain Babar Azam bats at number five for Laxman and Smith. Bangladesh talisman all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and England’s linchpin Ben Stokes are the two all-rounders in the side. Stokes has had a dream season and he was England’s leading run-scorer in the Ashes.
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock takes up the wicketkeeping duties for VVS Laxman and Graeme Smith’s side. de Kock had scored a fine century in the first Test at Visakhapatnam.
Australia’s ace paceman Pat Cummins and England’s Jofra Archer constitutes the pace battery. Cummins is the number one Test bowler whereas Archer has lived up to the expectations. Nathan Lyon, who has done well in all conditions in the lone spinner in the side.
Here’s the dream team: Dean Elgar, Tamim Iqbal, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, Babar Azam, Shakib Al Hasan, Ben Stokes, Quinton de Kock (wk), Pat Cummins, Jofra Archer, Nathan Lyon.