South Africa and India gear up for a two-match Test series, starting on Boxing Day. The first Test will be held at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The second Test match will start on January 3 at the Newlands in Cape Town. Notably, India have lost each of their last three Test series in South Africa. They lost 2-1 each in 2021-22 and 2017-18 respectively. Before that, the tourists also suffered a 1-0 defeat in 2013-14.
Overall, the two teams have met on 42 occasions in Test cricket. India have claimed 15 wins to SA’s 17. 10 matches have been drawn.
This series will be of utmost significance before India host England at home in January end. India, who have been a two-time finalist in the ICC World Test Championship, are atop the 2023-25 standings as of now. They will want to seek a positive result on this tour and signify their recent growth as a touring party. Once again, both teams have some quality names in the mix. And the big guns will hope to battle it out and showcase their mettle.
Ahead of a gruelling two-match series, we look at eight players who can have utmost significance.
Virat Kohli
The 35-year-old Virat Kohli will be raring to have a crack against the Proteas. In 14 Test matches, Kohli owns 1236 runs against SA, averaging a healthy average of 56.18. Meanwhile, across 7 Test matches on South African soil, he owns 719 runs at 51.35. Out of his three tons and four fifties versus SA, two centuries have come in South Africa. Kohli is aiming to become the second-highest scorer for India versus SA in Tests. As per ESPNcricinfo, Kohli, who owns a total of 8676 runs in Tests, is closing in on 4500 runs in away matches (home of opposition). He owns 29 tons and 29 fifties in total.
Shubman Gill
With no Cheteshwar Pujara in the mix, Shubman Gill may be asked to come in at number, allowing Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings with Rohit Sharma. Gill has had a superb 2023, scoring the most runs in the IPL and is also the top scorer in ODIs. In five matches, Gill owns 230 runs in Tests this year and will want to end the year on a high. Gill is closing in on 1000 Test runs (966). He is also closing in on 500 runs away (482). If Gill shines at number three, he can nail down this position for the next decade.
Jasprit Bumrah
With Mohammed Shami ruled out, Jasprit Bumrah will have an added responsibility to lead India’s pace unit. Bumrah will relish playing on the South African surface which will help him extract bounce and movement. Bumrah last played a Test versus England in 2022. This series will mark a massive return for the right-arm pacer, who owns 128 Test scalps at 21.99. In six Tests, he has 26 scalps versus SA. On South African soil, the senior bowler collected all 26 scalps at 24.38. Bumrah has been excellent in away Tests (114 scalps at 21.96).
Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj will want to replicate his impressive show in Australia and England in Tests. A hardworking asset, Siraj can be the wicket-taking option India need. He is closing in on 50 away Test wickets (47). Overall, Siraj has 59 scalps at 30.23. In South Africa, he owns just the three scalps from two Tests at 51.00. He needs to improve here and showcase his credentials as the support act for Bumrah with the red ball.
Dean Elgar
Former Test skipper Dean Elgar is in need of runs and this upcoming series will be a crucial one for him. In his last 15 Test innings, Elgar has scored just one fifty. Only three of his scores have been above 40. Elgar, who has smashed 5146 runs at 37.28, last scored a Test century in 2021 versus Sri Lanka in Johannesburg. Versus India, Elgar has amassed 811 runs at 36.86. In home Tests, he has 3278 runs under his belt at 46.16.
Temba Bavuma
After a poor ICC World Cup 2023 campaign, Temba Bavuma will have his task cut out. The SA Test skipper is hungry for runs and needs to start well. Bavuma is closing in on 3000 Test runs (2997). He has an average of 35.25. Versus India, Bavuma owns a tally of 373 runs at 33.90. In 31 home Tests, he has scored 1643 runs at 39.11. Bavuma averages over 50 in Tests this year and this will help him to derive the confidence needed.
Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram is SA’s top scorer this year in the two Test matches the nation has featured in. He floored the Windies with scores of 115, 47, 96, and 18. Markram has a steady record at home. He owns 1801 runs on home soil at an average of 43.92 with the help of five hundreds and 8 fifties, Notably, Markram has 2285 Test runs at 36.26. However, the middle-order batter needs improvement against India. He averages a dismal 16.25. In six Tests at home versus India, Markram has scored 260 runs at just 18.00.
Gerald Coetzee
After bagging a handsome IPL contract, SA pacer Gerald Coetzee will want to impress in the Test series against India. Coetzee had a solid ICC World Cup 2023 campaign, and being just two Tests old, he has serious work to do to stop the Indian batters. In two matches, the right-arm pacer has claimed nine wickets, having made his debut against West Indies this year. Coetzee will be pumped up and can offer an excellent pace to trouble India. If Kagiso Rabada gets ruled out, Coetzee will become SA’s primary leader of the pack.