IND vs SA: 1st Test Preview – New-look South Africa face Indian juggernaut
In 2015, South Africa arrived on the Indian shores with stalwarts such as AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn. Despite having the big guns, the Proteas went down 0-3 in the four-match Test series. The drawn Test was a result of rain washing out four days of the game. India’s spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took 54 wickets out of possible 70 as spin reigned supreme in the series. Now a new-look South Africa take on India in the three-match Test series which begins on 2nd October (Wednesday).
Also read: IND vs SA: Five things that make the Freedom Trophy special
The current South African team will miss their past heroes but now is the time for them to show their mettle. The challenge is the stiffest possible in contemporary cricket. The Indian team have won their last 10 home Test series. Since 2013, the Asian giants have lost only one Test match in India. Indian captain Virat Kohli will be eager to continue the ruthless domination and claim this series without a blemish. This series is also a part of the World Test Championship which is an added incentive for the teams.
Also read: Kings at home – India’s incredible home Test domination
Match Info
India vs South Africa, 1st Test, October 2nd to 6th
Dr. YSR ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam (09:30 AM IST)
Head-To-Head
Played – 36
India wins – 11
South Africa wins -15
Drawn – 10
In India, these two teams have squared off against each other a total of 16 times. The home side has won on 11 occasions while the African nation has emerged victorious five times. Remaining three Test matches between India and South Africa have been drawn affairs.
Team News
India
Captain Virat Kohli has already given away his team combination for the first Test. In the pre-match conference, Kohli announced that Wriddhiman Saha will be playing ahead of Rishabh Pant. Saha had been missing from the Indian team due to his long-sustained injury. The wicketkeeper comes back to take his rightful place. The other talked-about inclusion is of R Ashwin. The selectors did not pick the premier off-spinner for Tests in West Indies. He will be appearing for India for the first time after December 2018.
#TeamIndia for 1st Test of @Paytm Freedom Series for Gandhi-Mandela Trophy against South Africa.
Virat Kohli (Capt), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Md Shami#INDvSA
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 1, 2019
Jasprit Bumrah’s injury has prolonged his wait for playing a home Test. Umesh Yadav is his replacement for this series. Also, this will be the first Test match for Rohit Sharma as an opener. He has been tremendously successful in the limited-overs cricket but this will be an interesting test for him.
South Africa
The visitors do not have much to ponder upon for deciding their final XI. Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram will open the innings. Markram was impressive in his century against Board Presidents XI last week. Theunis de Bruyn will take up the number three role post Hashim Amla’s retirement. Captain Faf du Plessis will be the batting mainstay. Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock will take up the next spots.
Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj will form the core of South Africa’s bowling attack. Dane Piedt is likely to feature given the pitch conditions which should assist spin. This leaves South Africa a choice between pace bowler Lungi Ngidi and a specialist batsman Zubyr Hamza.
Key Players
R Ashwin (India): A fierce competitor like Ravichandran Ashwin will be eager to show his worth to the team management. First, he was booted out of the limited-overs team. Next, he was sidelined for the Test matches against West Indies. Needing 8 wickets in this Test for becoming the joint-fastest to 350 Test wickets, Ashwin has a lot to play for.
Aiden Markram (South Africa): South Africa are not renowned for playing spin efficiently although the likes of AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis tried earnestly to change the notion. This 24-year old has shown a lot of promise and comes across as someone ripe with Test match temperament. His 161 against India A and 100 against Board Presidents XI should give him a lot of confidence. Undoubtedly, this will be Markram’s toughest test.
Probable XI
India: M Agarwal, R Sharma, C Pujara, V Kohli (c), A Rahane, H Vihari, W Saha (wk), R Jadeja, R Ashwin, I Sharma, M Shami
South Africa: A Markram, D Elgar, T de Bruyn, Faf du Plessis (c), T Bavuma, Z Hamza, Q de Kock (wk), V Philander, K Maharaj, D Piedt, K Rabada
