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India’s tour of South Africa will kick off with the Boxing Day Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The two teams will compete from December 26 for a series victory as well as crucial points towards the World Test Championship.
The Indian Test team has achieved remarkable feats such as twin series victories in Australia, a series win in the West Indies and leading the scoreline to 2-1 in England before the fifth Test was postponed.
The SA tour is the next challenge for this team and an opportunity for them to truly cement their legacy as one of the greatest Test sides in the history of the sport. India started their 2021 with a remarkable draw at Sydney, followed by a historic win at the Gabba to defeat Australia by 2-1.
They lost the WTC final against New Zealand but had an incredible showing against England, winning the Lord’s and Oval Tests. India then defeated NZ at home by 1-0 in a two-match series.
This will be South Africa’s first series in the ongoing WTC cycle. Earlier this year, they lost both the Tests against Pakistan away from home. In their second away tour of the year, they defeated WI in their own backyard, winning the first Test by an innings and 63 runs, and second game by 158 runs.
India, who have never won a Test series in South Africa, will have their best chance of creating history.
Key players
Jasprit Bumrah is one of the rare all-condition fast bowlers in the world. The Indian spearhead has the ability to extract movement at a consistent high 130 kmph speed. He has taken 101 wickets from just 24 Test matches at an outstanding average of 22.79. The speedster has registered six five-wicket hauls so far, with best match figures of 9/86. Coming off some much needed rest, Bumrah will be raring to go full throttle in the first Test.
Virat Kohli needs no introduction. One of the best batters of this generation, Kohli is going through a tough phase but expect him to turn things around. The Indian skipper has 7801 runs from 97 Tests at an average of 50.65, including 27 hundreds and as many fifties. Kohli has a terrific record in South Africa, having scored 558 runs across five games at an 55.80. With the conditions he has done well in and the absence of Rohit, Kohli will be a key player in the Centurion Test.
Aiden Markram is renowned as one of the most skillful and eye-pleasing batters in world cricket. The 27yr old has been in superb form this year and would want to carry that into the longest format. He has scored 1824 runs in 26 Tests at an average of 39.65 with the help of five hundreds and nine fifties. Markram averages 46.74 at home and will carry a lot of hope for SA against India’s potent bowling attack.
Duanne Olivier is amongst the best seamers in South Africa with a wide array of skill set. The Bloemfontein quick had a spectacular start to his Test cricket, claiming 48 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 19.25, including three five-fors. Olivier returned to SA after two years, following a Kolpak stint and snared 28 scalps from four games in Four-day franchise series at 11.14 apiece.
Prediction
India and South Africa have had a neck and neck head to head record, with both the teams at their home. The overall scoreline reads 15-14 in favour of the Proteas. As far as the matches in the rainbow nation are concerned, SA have won 10 while India have claimed three, with seven resulting in draws.
South Africa have a vulnerable batting unit with a lot depending on the likes of Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock. They have suffered a blow in the bowling department as fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the series due to a hip injury. Duanne Olivier is set to make his international comeback. Kagiso Rabada has been hot and cold lately, and so is Lungi Ngidi.
India possesses an all time great bowling attack in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj. The batting unit, however, looks a bit shaky with the absence of Rohit Sharma, who is ruled out due to an injury. A lot of responsibility will be on Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
The contest is basically about two bowling attacks on a seam-friendly deck of Centurion. India, who are a better team, will start as the favourites. However, the weather forecast looks grim for the Test, with four out five days expected to have thunderstorms, leaving a very slim chance of a result.
