After India’s failure in the first Test, the cricket experts were hoping a few changes in India’s playing eleven in the second match of the three-match series against South Africa. As expected, Virat Kohli made some changes, bringing KL Rahul for Shikhar Dhawan and Ishant Sharma for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

However, the cricket lovers were happy as Test specialist Ajinkya Rahane was once again ignored and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was the best bowler of first Test, was dropped.

The veteran Indian opener Virender Sehwag slammed Virat Kohli for the team selection and said seeing the selection, he should drop himself if he fails at Centurion.

“Watching Virat Kohli excluding Shikhar Dhawan for just one Test failure, and Bhuvneshwar for no reason at all, Kohli should drop himself in the third Test at Centurion, if he fails to perform in Centurion,” Sehwag told ‘India TV’.

“Excluding Bhuvneshwar wasn’t the right decision. Citing that Ishant might benefit with his height, Virat Kohli has hurt Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s self-confidence. They could have played Ishant in place of any other bowler. Bhuvneshwar performed well in Cape Town and excluding him like this isn’t justified,” Sehwag added.

Earlier, the former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar questioned India’s team selection for the second cricket Test against South Africa, saying opener Shikhar Dhawan’s “head is always on the chopping board”.

Gavaskar said, “I think Shikhar Dhawan is the ‘Bali ka Bakra’ (scapegoat). His head is always on the chopping board. He just needs one bad innings and he is out of the team. I also don’t understand why Ishant came in for Bhuvneshwar when he had taken three wickets on the opening day at Cape Town. Ishant could have replaced Shami or Bumrah but leaving him out, I don’t understand.”

India’s record of nine consecutive series victories is on the line after the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

It is only the second match in India’s 12-Test long overseas schedule in 2018-19, and already they are facing a tricky situation in a bid to keep this series alive.

-With PTI inputs