NEW DELHI: The Super Eights clash between India national cricket team and South Africa national cricket team on Sunday will be staged on a black soil surface that is unlikely to assist spinners, leaving the team management with a tricky call — whether to field an extra spinner or strengthen the pace attack.
Vice-captain Axar Patel is set to return to the XI in place of Washington Sundar, but the think tank will deliberate carefully before opting for a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav, especially given Arshdeep Singh’s reliability at the death.
The Motera venue in Ahmedabad features red soil, black soil and hybrid strips.
For this fixture, curators have rolled out a black soil pitch expected to offer consistent bounce. Even the final layer of grass has been trimmed off, giving it a bare and firm appearance.
Pitch conditions favour pace
A former Gujarat captain, well-versed with conditions at Motera, believes spinners may find little assistance, a view echoed by Quinton de Kock during the pre-match press conference.
"This seems like a flat deck. There should be decent bounce and value for shots. If I would have been the captain, I would pick Arshdeep Singh over Kuldeep Yadav on this particular strip," the former India player said during an informal chat with PTI.
de Kock backs seamer friendly call
"I think in Ahmedabad, these wickets have been a bit more seamer-friendly. In Ahmedabad, there has been no spin at all. So, I'm saying that it's all about conditions at the end of the day," De Kock said.
At the optional pre-match session under the blazing sun, Kuldeep bowled extensively to regulars Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh.
Usually, bowlers slated to play the following day skip training on match eve. Kuldeep’s extended stint in the nets could hint that Arshdeep is set to feature in the playing XI.
(With PTI Inputs)
