Nagpur, Feb. 5: One unit plagued by injuries and another desperately seeking redemption renew a rivalry that could outdo quite a few others in world cricket. India and South Africa will commence a media-charged series to decide the best team in Test cricket here on Saturday.

Having already been pushed back by the unavailability of Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, India were left sweating on V.V.S. Laxman’s fitness. The finger injury picked up in Chittagong has not healed completely and the team management have decided to wait till the morning of the match before taking a call.

Rohit Sharma who had already been drafted in as cover could make his debut. S. Badrinath, a front-runner for a middle order slot was hit by a Zaheer Khan delivery on the hip during practice but fortunately it did not turn out to be serious and has been declared fit. M. Vijay, who made his debut against Australia here in 2008, is likely to bat at three.

India will not only miss the experience of Dravid and Laxman with the bat but also their skills in the slip cordon.

Skipper M.S. Dhoni who has preferred four specialist bowlers in home Tests is likely to continue with the same strategy. Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh pick themselves while there was no clear word on the fourth bowler.

There was speculation of a rift between Virender Sehwag and Dhoni over the selection of Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra in Bangladesh and that is the only spot that is being left undecided. However there were pointers from team sources that the leg-spinner would be preferred over Ojha.

The South African think-tank do not have such problems with their team decided. The temptation to play off-spinner Johan Botha ahead of Paul Harris did do the rounds but there were enough indications of Harris getting the nod.

The visitors’ athleticism and aggression with the new ball give them the edge but a lot will also depend on their top-order’s ability to cope against the turning ball.

Reverse-swing could have a major say in the final analysis. The difference between Australia and India in 2008 was this factor. Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell and Morne Morkel all have the air speed to get the old ball to reverse. A middle order lacking in experience could well open the gates for South Africa. An abrasive wicket could also play a part in hitting the old ball to swerve.

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have to be a little more watchful in the present scenario. One of them will have to play a big innings and provide scope for the others to bat around them. If Sachin Tendulkar is taken out of the equation (and Laxman fails to make the XI) then there is little else on paper to inspire.

Harbhajan, after a string of mediocre performances must pull up his socks against the likes of Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis who have acquitted themselves well against spin in the recent past. Whenever he has got his fingers behind the ball consistently and operated with a slower speed, he has found success. Sadly he has lacked the confidence to do it consistently.

A result or the lack of it could hinge on a variety of factors. The two units have their strengths to fall back on and just like the game was designed, superiority could be attained by wise game plans and sharp cricketing intelligence.

Squads:

India: M.S. Dhoni (capt), V. Sehwag, G. Gambhir, S.R. Tendulkar, M. Vijay, S. Badrinath, V.V.S. Laxman, R.G. Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, S. Tyagi, P. Ojha, A. Mishra, A. Mithun, W. Saha. Coach: G. Kirsten

South Africa: G.Smith (capt), A. Prince, H. Amla, J. Kallis, AB de Villiers, W. Parnell, JP Duminy, A. Petersen, J. Botha, P. Harris, M. Morkel, D. Steyn, M. Boucher, Paul Harris, L. Tsotobe, R. McLaren. Coach: Cornelius van Zyl

V. BALAJI