South Africa vs India: Test Records and Stats at SuperSport Park, Centurion

India (IND) and South Africa (SA) clash in the first Test of a two-match series on 26 December at the iconic SuperSport Park in Centurion. The series will then move to Newlands, Cape Town for the final match of the series.

In 15 Test series between these two sides, the Proteas have emerged victorious eight times, while India have won four. The remaining three series ended in a draw. However when playing in South Africa, the Proteas have dominated, winning seven series while one series ended in a draw. India never won the series in South Africa.

Regular captain Rohit Sharma will lead the Test side and Jasprit Bumrah will be the vice-captain. Notably, Rohit, Virat Kohli and Bumrah have returned after their post-World Cup break. Ruturaj Gaikwad, meanwhile, misses due to a finger injury with Abhimanyu Easwaran named as his replacement. Ishan Kishan has also withrawn from the series due to family emergency while Mohammed Shami is unfit and not available.

Also check: SA vs IND Live Score, 1st Test

SA vs IND Test Head-to-Head Record

The two teams have faced each other in 42 Tests, with India emerging victorious 15 times and South Africa 17 while 10 matches ended in draw. In South Africa, the Proteas have won 12 out of 23 matches while the Indian team has won only four matches and seven matches ended in draw.

Test records and stats at SuperSport Park, Centurion

In 28 matches played at the venue, pacers have claimed 740 wickets at an average of 26.94, while spinners have accounted for just 106 wickets at an average of 51.13. Batting first has resulted in 13 victories while batting second has 12 wins. The average first-innings score in SuperSport Park is 330.

SA vs IND Player Battles to Watch Out For

Rohit Sharma against Kagiso Rabada

Rohit Sharms played nine innings against Kagiso Rabada in Test and scored 100 runs and dismissed for five times.

Temba Bavuma against Ravindra Jadeja

Bavuma played five innings against jadeja in test and scored 28 runs and dismissed for 2 times.

X-factors for South Africa vs India

India:

Virat Kohli will be the X-factor for India. He has been in good form with the bat in 2023, having scored 557 runs at an average of 55.70, with one half-century and two centuries in test.  

South Africa:

Aiden Markram will be the X-factor for South Africa. He has been in good form in 2023, having scored 276 runs in four innings at an average of 69.00, with one century and one half-century in test.  

India vs South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

India:

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

South Africa:

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