As India shift focus to the longest format, they’re preparing for the South African problem within the first match of the 2-Take a look at sequence, beginning Boxing Day – December 26 – in Centurion. The 2 stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, are again within the combine a month after the heartbreaking World Cup 2023 closing. As head coach Rahul Dravid stated on the presser, the gamers are educated to maneuver on from heartbreaks and therefore, they’re now wanting ahead to qualifying for the 2025 World Take a look at Championship closing.
Out of the 23 Checks India performed in South Africa, they’ve gained solely 4. Additionally, the Indians have by no means gained a Take a look at sequence within the Rainbow and the forthcoming sequence is one other shot at rewriting historical past for Rohit Sharma & Co.
What: India vs South Africa 1st Take a look at
When: December 26 – the Boxing Day
The place: SuperSport Park, Centurion
Begin Time: 1:30 PM IST
Workforce Information – India
Whereas the likes of Rohit, Kohli and Jasroti Burmah return to motion, the eyes may also be on the kids. The likes of Yashasvi Jasiwal, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have by no means performed a Take a look at match in South Africa and their calibre will likely be examined in opposition to the Proteas assault on a spicy monitor. With Jaiswal and Gill of attacking ilk, head coach Dravid believes the group will encourage the younger batters to be themselves with the bat.
However concern looms over the averages of some famend faces which drops down on coming to South Africa. Rohit Sharma’s common of 46.54 crashes to fifteen.37 whereas KL Rahul’s slips to 25 from 33. It’s solely Kohli who has dominated the abroad soil with the bat as he averages greater than 50 in South Africa.
Within the final tour of South Africa, Rahul batted as an opener and scored an excellent hundred in Centurion to be adjudged the Participant of the Match. He bought a fifty within the subsequent sport in Johannesburg after which his type took successful and runs dried up.
However this time round, the absence of Ishan Kishan will permit Rahul to maintain wickets and bat within the center order. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if the change in batting place does wonders for the Karnataka batter.
In the meantime, the climate forecast for the primary two days of the Centurion Take a look at predicts rain, which additional intensifies the bowling mixture debate. With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj being certainties, there will likely be a toss-up between Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna for the third pacer’s slot.
Furthermore, questions are additionally on Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin being fielded collectively or would one among them make method for a seam-bowling all-rounder in Shardul Thakur? Although the pinnacle coach didn’t drop a touch within the pre-match presser, the guests, in most chance, will take the sphere with a pace-heavy assault.
South Africa Workforce Information
The Proteas have been dominant in opposition to India at residence. However the present batting unit may not match the opposition when it comes to the typical. Additionally, the person to be within the highlight is outgoing batter Dean Elgar who will likely be enjoying the final 2 Checks of his profession. He’s one among solely three South African batters with a median of greater than 30. And as far Indians are involved, half of their possible high six common greater than 40. Fascinating, isn’t it?
“We’ve spoken about Dean, but it surely’s equally necessary to blood the younger guys so that they really feel comfy on this setting so that they’re capable of play their greatest cricket,” stated Temba Bavuma on Elgar.
However what has overwhelmed the Indians within the Rainbow Nation is the tempo. The final tour noticed Kagiso Rabada choosing up 20 wickets in 3 matches whereas Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi scalped 19 and 15, respectively. However at present, two of the prime pacers, Rabada and Ngidi, are attempting to beat heel and ankle points.
Squads:
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk).
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk).