South Africa Vs India Test series, starts with a Boxing Day Test match. The first match of the three-match Test series will be played at Supersports Park in Centurion from Sunday 26th December 2021 to Thursday 30th December 2021. India is a strong side when it comes to playing Test cricket. India’s form in Test matches has been good. They won a series in Australia, reached the WTC final, and came close to winning the Test series in England.
But the South African series will be a different challenge for Virat Kohli and company. The fast bowlers of South Africa will trouble the Indian batters in this series. Even though the home side will miss Anrich Nortje, there are some other good bowlers like Radada, Nigidi, and Dussen. The top five Indian batters need to step up in this submit clash. Also, Read – These Five Batsmen Should Stand Up for India in the Test Series Against South Africa – CricIndia365
The bowling has been good in the recent past for India. Bowlers like Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and Shardul Thakur were good in Australia and England. But the concern for a spin will worry India. Jadeja will miss the entire series due to injury, and the visiting side will be without Axar Patel. So the onus will be on Ravichandran Ashwin, and there is no guarantee of playing Jayan Yadav in the first Test match from tomorrow.
India can also include the experienced Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav in their playing XI. But Umesh Yadav’s form has been shaky overseas. He performed well in England. But still, adding Shardul Thakur in the mix will help India bat deeper, and Lord Thakur makes things happen with the ball. Read More on this – 5 Indian Bowlers to Watch Out for in the South Africa Vs India Three Match Test Series – CricIndia365.
Talking about the head-to-head records between South Africa Vs India in the Proteas Nation, the visiting Indian side still hasn’t tasted much success. India is yet to win a Test series – South Africa Vs India – 1st Test Match, Head to Head, Live Streaming Details, Channel List, and Timing – CricIndia365. Only three Indian skippers have won a Test match in the Poteas Nation. Find out who those are – Top 3 Indian Captains Who Have Won a Test Match on South African Soil – CricIndia365.
This encounter will be the last Test match in 2021, so India will look to end their Test cricket with a win against the Proteas at Centurion. Rishabh Pant, who had an extraordinary 2021, will look to finish the year with big runs in both the innings of the 1st Test match. Pant guided India to breach Australia’s fortress in Brisbane in early 2021. He scored a ton against England at home, and he has also cemented his place in the limited-overs game.
South Africa will miss Anrich Nortje and Quinton De Kock after the first match. The Proteas tea will look for an improved batting performance against India’s quality pace bowling attack. They know what Shami and Bumrah did to them in the 2018 series. Even though India lost the Test series, they won at The Wanders Stadium in Johannesburg on a seaming surface.
Skipper Elgar and Markram hold the key for the home team in the first test match. The openers need to start their innings and decimate the Indian fast bowling unit. Temba Bavuma holds the key in the middle order. He needs to grind the innings out because, after him, there is not much experience in the batting lineup of South Africa. If India picks the top three wickets early, they are in the game.
In the first match, George Linde and Mulder will be the all-rounders for South Africa. They need to take dual responsibility and help South Africa to maintain their record in the Test series against India. South Africa hasn’t lost any Centurion and Cape Town match against India. The home team also needs good points on the WTC points table.
The bowling attack looks decent despite missing Nortje in the playing XI. Rabada will be the leader of the South African pace bowling attack, and the elven will have Lungisan Nigidi, Oliver Dunne, Narco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, and Keshav Maharaj as their premiere bowlers of the side for the first match.
The pace battery of South Africa will hold the key to success, and the spinners need to hold the grip after the good work done by the fast bowlers. Keshav Maharaj will be the player to watch out for in this first match at Centurion.
South Africa Vs India 1st Test Match – Pitch Report
The pitches in South Africa often help the pace bowlers. The pitch report for the first Test match says that the wicket will be easy for batting, and the bowlers will get assistant from the Supersports Park surface. Still, the pace bowlers from both teams will not allow the batters to come good. We suggest the fantasy players pick more fast bowlers in your team for this reason. The average score from the last five Test matches at this venue is 297 runs.
South Africa Vs India 1st Test match – Weather Report
According to the weather report, thunderstorms are expected at Centurion. The first three days of the 1st Test match might have frequent interruptions.
South Africa Vs India 1st Test match – India’s probable Playing XI
KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Chesteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajikya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Jaspit Bumrah, and Mohammad Siraj.
South Africa Vs India 1st Test match – South Africa’s Probable Playing XI
Den Elgar (C), Adien Markram, Temba Bavuma, Keegan Petersen, Rasie van der Dussen, Quinton DE Kock, George Linde/ Lungi Nigidi, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada.
South Africa Vs India 1st Test match – Fantasy Batsmen
The Pant mania will look to end the 2021 year with a ton in South Africa. Rishabh was excellent in Australia. But not so good against England on that tour. No Indian wicketkeeper has scored a century in South Africa till now. This inspiration is enough for Pant to come good in the first test match at Centurion.
Aiden Markram – The opening batter from the Proteas Nation holds the key in the first Test match. If Adyen makes a mark in the first test match, everything will fall in place for the home side. Aidan needs to give a good start with the skipper at the other end. If his performance falters, then his place for this series’s second and third matches will be under doubt.
South Africa Vs India 1st Test match – Fantasy Bowlers
Kagiso Rabada – With no Nortje, the onus on Kagiso Rabada will be a huge one. He will be the lead pace bowler for this whole series. The pacer needs to come up from his inconsistency and deliver for the team. He is the one who can use the new ball and reserve swing from the older ball. Rabada also needs to guide the bowlers like Dunne, Mulder, and Jansen as the team’s senior pro.
Ravichandran Ashwin – The ace spin bowling all-rounder will be tested in South African conditions, which are said to be the graveyard for the spinners. Ash was good in Australia. But he didn’t play a single game in England, and his comeback in the limited-overs format will boost his confidence. Still, he needs to play out of his skin to succeed in the Proteas Nation. Ashwin will be the lone spin bowler for India in this three-match series.
South Africa Vs India 1st test match – Fantasy XI
Batters – KL Rahul, Temba Bavuma, Rishabh Pant.
Bowler – Kagiso Rabada, Dunne Oliver and Jasprit Bumrah.
All-rounders – Ravichandran Ashwin and Marco Jansen
Wicketkeeper – Quinton De Kock.
Vice-Captain – Dean Elgar
Captain – Virat Kohli.
