Former wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim expressed his desire to see pacers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna included in India’s playing XI for the first ODI against South Africa in the 2025 series. He believes that their inclusion would bring variety and strength to the pace attack, giving India an edge on South African pitches.
Karim highlighted the importance of balancing India’s bowling unit with both experience and emerging talent. He suggested that alongside frontline bowlers, young players like Arshdeep and Prasidh could offer fresh energy and adaptability to different match situations.
He emphasized that pace and accuracy would be critical in South African conditions, where seam movement and bounce tend to play a big role. According to Karim, Arshdeep’s ability with the new ball and Prasidh’s hit-the-deck style could complement each other well.
“I would love to see Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna in the playing XI. It’s important to give them game time and see how they perform under foreign conditions,” said Saba Karim.
The upcoming India vs. South Africa ODI series is expected to test India’s depth in pace bowling, especially with senior players being rotated. The team management aims to evaluate how the younger bowlers handle the challenge of bowling on fast tracks ahead of future international tournaments.
Author’s summary:
Saba Karim recommended including young pacers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna in India’s lineup for the first ODI against South Africa to strengthen the team’s pace attack and adapt to seaming conditions.