SA vs IND 1st Test Preview: Even many young batsmen will know where they stand when it comes to the real challenge.
Centurion:
Forgetting the disappointment of losing the ODI World Cup final 36 days ago, the Indian team will now leave no stone unturned to end their 31-year wait to win a Test series in South Africa. The two-Test series (SA vs Ind 1st Test) between India and South Africa will begin on Tuesday. This will be India’s ninth Test series in South Africa since 1992, but so far they have not won a single series in the country. This is the reason why the current series as usual is being called the ‘last fort’ for the Rohit Sharma-led team. But heavy rain is predicted for the first two days of the match at SuperSport Park. The Centurion wicket offers pace and uneven bounce in what could be a close contest. Let’s take a look at the highlights of this series.
Contents
1. Rohit has a historic opportunity
In the ODI World Cup, Rohit Sharma got a chance to match Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni but failed to become the world-winning captain due to the loss to Australia in the final. Now he has a chance to become the first Indian captain to win a Test series in South Africa and he is not going to let it go. India failed in South Africa under the captaincy of Mohammad Azharuddin (1992), Sachin Tendulkar (1996) and Sourav Ganguly (2001). Rahul Dravid (2006–07), Dhoni (2010–11 and 2013–14) and Virat Kohli (2018–19 and 2021–22) have won Test matches but no team has won the series.
2. Last tour of some players!
This could be the last tour to South Africa for some of India’s star cricketers and they will surely be keen to make it memorable. South Africa, led by Temba Bavuma, have some good fast bowlers who can cause trouble for India’s young batsmen. Opening batsman Yashwi Jaiswal will be tested against bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jensen and Gerald Coetzee.
3. Big challenge for young batsmen
Similarly, batsmen like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who have proven themselves on subcontinental pitches, will have to perform at their best in more challenging conditions. The short pitch ball is considered to be Iyer’s weakness and he will have to do something special to overcome it. Head coach Rahul Dravid does not want Jaiswal and Gill to change their style but wants them to bat according to the conditions.
4. Three factors are very important for India
However, India’s performance will depend on three factors. First, how well captain Rohit Sharma hook and pull shot, second, how long Virat Kohli decides to leave the ball going outside the off-stump and third, how the team compensates for Mohammed Shami’s absence. Shami can be replaced by Mukesh Kumar or one of the famous Krishna. South Africa have good batsmen in the form of Bavuma, Dean Elgar, who announced his retirement after this series, the stylish Eden Markram, the young Tony De Jorzi and Keegan Pietersen who can trouble the Indian bowlers.
5. KL Rahul will be seen in the wicketkeeping role
KL Rahul will be the wicketkeeper in this match. All eyes will be on how Rahul, who plays this role well in limited-overs cricket, will perform behind the wicket in the longer format. This will be the second Test match played abroad in which off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin may have to sit out due to condition and team combination. At SuperSport Park, the result is usually declared in four days, but if the first day’s play is washed out by rain and the toss is taken on the second day, batting first will certainly be a tough task.
6. The final XI of both the countries will be as follows
India: 1. Rohit Sharma (Captain) 2. Yashshwi Jaiswal 3. Shubman Gill 4. Virat Kohli 5. KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper) 6. Shreyas Iyer 7. Ravindra Jadeja 8. Shardul Thakur 9. Jasprit Bumrah, 10. Mohammad Siraj 11. Krishna
South Africa: 1. Temba Bavuma (Captain) 2. Dean Elgar 3. Aidan Markram 4. Tony De Giorgi 5. David Bedingham/Keegan Pietersen 6. Kyle Verevin 7. Marco Jensen 8. Keshav Maharaj 9. Gerald Coetzee 10. Kagiso 11. Ludangi Angidi