India vs South Africa, 1st Test Match Preview

The much-awaited two-match Test series between India and South Africa commences on Tuesday, December 26, with the first game being played at Supersport Park, Centurion.

India do not have a memorable record in Test matches in the Rainbow Nation. In the 23 matches played between the two sides on South African soil, India have won only four, lost 12, and drawn seven. Nine series have been played thus far between the two cricketing giants in South Africa and the hosts have won in all but one attempt.

Last time when India toured South Africa in 2021-2022, they lost the red-ball series 1-2. However, India will have fond memories of Centurion Test as their only win in the previous Test series came at this venue. KL Rahul scored a century in the first innings while Mohammed Shami finished with eight wickets in the match. India won by 113 runs.

This time, the series comprises only a couple of games. With World Test Championship (WTC) points at stake, both teams are expected to come out all guns blazing.

Supersport Park Pitch Report

Fast bowlers could be having a great time at the SuperSport Park as a green top is expected to greet them on Boxing Day. Pitches at SuperSport Park generally stay on the slower side on first day before quickening up over the next couple of days while the bounce becomes inconsistent as the game progresses. The captain who wins the toss could opt to bat first and force the opposition team to bat in the fourth innings, on a crumbling pitch. However, there is a high possibility of rain on the first two days. If the pitch remains under the covers for a long time, batting first could prove to be tricky. 

IND vs SA Probable Playing XI

South Africa:

Dean Elgar announced last week that the two-match Test series will be his last international assignment. He would love to go out on a high. The southpaw will open the innings with Aiden Markram, who was the Player of the Series during South Africa's last Test assignment against West Indies earlier this year. Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada return to action after being rested for the white-ball leg.

South Africa are likely to go in with four frontline pacers - Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Rabada, with Keshav Maharaj as the lone spinner. Tony de Zorzi finished as the highest run-getter in the ODI series, amassing 228 runs at an average of 114 in three games. The hosts would hope he continues his purple patch in the whites as well.

Predicted XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (C), Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

India:

India have copped a couple of injury blows ahead of the first Test. The in-form Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the series due to an ankle injury while Ruturaj Gaikwad is also out with a fractured right ring finger. Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran has replaced him.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will start for India and they will be joined by either Mukesh Kumar or Prasidh Krishna. Shardul Thakur is expected to play as the seam-bowling all-rounder while Ravindra Jadeja could be the lone spinner. Yashasvi Jaiswal had a fantastic debut Test series in the Caribbean, finishing as the leading run-getter, with 266 runs in three innings at an average of 88.67 He will open with skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will slot in at No. 3.

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar/Prasidh Krishna

SA vs IND Tests Head-to-Head Records: