In the first Test match of the two-match series, India will take on South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion tomorrow, December 26, at 1:30 PM IST.
Following the conclusion of the white-ball tour, India will face South Africa in the longest format of the game, with the first Test set to begin on Boxing Day. India are yet to win a Test series in SA. Their only notable accomplishment was a drawn series during their 2010–11 tour. Recently, during the 2021–22 tour, India led the series 1-0 but lost 2-1. The big guns like Virat Kohli, skipper Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah are back in the squad and will look to form a new history in SA. Talking about the World Test Championship 2023–25 cycle, this assignment will be crucial for the Rahul Dravid-coached side, who would want to score some points outside India.
On the other hand, plenty of talks have been around Dean Elgar, who is playing his final international match in the series. Elgar started his Test career against Australia with the iconic duck; however, things changed when he struck a magnificent century against New Zealand. He never looked back after that, as he solidified his position as a key player in the team. It’s still unclear if Kagiso Rabada will play in the series after being forced to withdraw from the ODI series due to injury. It is also anticipated that Anrich Nortje would miss the match in addition to Rabada. However, it is believed that Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen will spearhead the bowling attack in the absence of both pacers. The pair is returning from their strong World Cup cricket performances. Furthermore, not to forget, Temba Bavuma, who last appeared for the Proteas in the semifinal defeat to India, will be back leading the side.
Head-to-Head:
India and South Africa have encountered each other 42 times in Test cricket. While the Men in Blue have won 15 matches, SA have prevailed 17 times. Moreover, 10 matches also ended with a draw.
Where to watch:
TV: Star Sports
OTT: Disney+ Hotstar