IND vs SA: Selection headache or perfect balance? Ravi Shastri flags India’s only dilemma ahead of Super 8 showdown

Nassau County, New York: India’s surge to the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has been so commanding that their lone quandary, according to former coach Ravi Shastri, is not about patching holes but about choosing between two equally enticing spin-bowling all-rounders. After a 12-match unbeaten streak that was stretched with a clinical win over the Netherlands, the defending champions appear to have every base covered—yet the final XI for Sunday’s marquee meeting with South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium is not yet inked.

Shastri, speaking to ICC Review, believes the management will resist the urge to overhaul a winning combination. “I think it will be pretty much the same side because you’ve got depth, you’ve got all bases covered, you’ve got options, you need options,” he said, emphasising that flexibility will be critical if dew descends in Ahmedabad. “Whether it’s a Shivam Dube, whether it’s Hardik bowling his full quota of overs, whether it’s Tilak Varma who might roll his arm for an over or two, you need those options.”

India’s campaign has been notable for match-winning cameos from multiple players rather than dependence on a single star. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have shouldered the limelight in different games, while Tilak Varma has flashed promise Shastri feels is still short of its ceiling. Even Abhishek Sharma’s string of low scores has been framed as a lurking threat to opponents. “I look at it as a positive that Abhishek Sharma has got three zeros,” Shastri noted. “So, save your best for the important periods in the tournament. Teams will be a little worried that he’s not got runs.”

The one selection fork in the road, Shastri underlined, involves the second spin slot: Axar Patel’s left-arm orthodox variety and proven batting depth versus Washington Sundar’s off-breaks and utility with the bat. Only one can squeeze into a line-up already brimming with multi-skilled cricketers.

Sunday’s clash pits two power-packed, in-form units. South Africa arrive with a deep batting order and pace firepower; India counter with a similar blend of aggression and balance. Familiarity with home conditions should aid the hosts, yet Shastri cautions that the toss could prove pivotal if heavy dew makes chasing significantly easier. “There’s a lot of self-belief and it’s going to be a cracking contest because South Africa are no pushovers,” he said. “These are two of the strongest teams.”

For India, the dilemma is enviable: pick the spinner who best complements a well-oiled machine, then hope the coin flip and dew factor tilt their way. For neutrals, the prospect is mouth-watering—a showdown between two unbeaten sides, each convinced the other represents their first real test of the tournament.

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