Mumbai, Oct 29 (PTI): The two-day tour warm-up game against Board President's XI, commencing here tomorrow, offers the touring South African cricketers a decent chance to get into the groove for the longest version of the game after their successful run in the T20 and ODI series against India.
The match, to be held at the Cricket Club of India s Brabourne Stadium, equally provides opportunities for young hopefuls from the home team to showcase their skills against a top class international side, while giving Test squad members Cheteshwar Pujara and K L Rahul quality time in the middle to settle in for the formidable task ahead against the visitors.
Pujara and Rahul, who did not figure in the shortest formats of the game against the visitors, would get a taste of the classy and frightening pace battery they would be up against in the upcoming four-Test series commencing at Mohali on November 5.
For other talented and performing domestic players such as Delhi opener Unmukt Chand, and Karnataka and Mumbai middle order batsmen Karun Nair and Shreyas Iyer, the game presents a not-to-be-missed occasion to come up with a telling performance to push their case further with the selectors.
Wicket keeper Naman Ojha, second behind no. 1 Wriddhiman Saha in the Test scenario, too has been offered the chance to grab the moment for making his presence felt behind the wickets with his glove work and in front with the bat.
With an eye on shoring up the thin bowling stock, the selectors have chosen young Rajasthan pacer Nathu Singh and Mumbai new ball bowler Shardul Thakur and spinners Karn Sharma, Jayant Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav.
Traditional leg spinner Karn Sharma has already tasted international cricket at the highest level while the two Yadavs seem to have been short-listed for their potential to fill in the back-up spots for off spin and left arm spin, though of the Chinaman variety.
Haryana off spinner Jayant should merit a close look having already figured for India A against their SA and Bangladesh counterparts in the series earlier this season and done reasonably well.