KL Rahul To Play As Specialist Batter? Mohammed Shami's Replacement? Two 'Big Questions' Troubling Rahul Dravid And Co Ahead Of South Africa Tests

The best combination as per conditions isn't always a team's best eleven and it will certainly be a struggle for India to find the right blend going into the opening Test against South Africa on 'Boxing Day'. At least two slots will give head coach Rahul Dravid sleepless nights. The tethering issues for India will be KL Rahul being asked to keep wickets to bolster the batting and the tricky task of choosing between Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna to replace the literally irreplaceable Mohammed Shami, who is recuperating from an ankle niggle.

On the face of it, some decisions might look straightforward but things won't be as easy as it seems for the Indian team management, which will again have to make unpopular decisions.

Mukesh or Prasidh?

The Centurion track has primarily been a pace bowler's paradise -- hard and bouncy with humidity that aids reverse swing during the latter half of the day.

So if one is talking about lateral movement, then Mukesh, who has already made his Test debut in the Caribbean, walks straight into the playing XI. But the Bengal seamer hasn't looked in the best of form during the white ball leg of the series.

However, with 151 wickets from 40 first-class games, red ball cricket is where Mukesh feels at home and has an average of 21 plus runs per wicket. His strike-rate remains a very decent 48 balls per wicket.

More importantly, Mukesh is a like a workhorse, who can bowl long spells and has also been known to use reverse swing during his post tea spells in Ranji Trophy cricket.

The other advantage is channel bowling -- right on the line - in and around the off-stump corridor and keeping it at fuller length.

Mukesh's nearest competitor is one of Dravid's favourite and a fellow Bangalore man