India vs South Africa 1st Test Preview: SA look to continue winning momentum as India look to make up for lost ground

India vs South Africa 1st Test Preview: SA look to continue winning momentum as India look to make up for lost ground: After tasting success in the T20s and the ODI series, South Africa will be looking to continue their winning ways in the Test series too. India on the other hand would want to redeem its pride after the drubbing it got in the 5^th ODI and move forward to get back to winning ways.

This is a huge series in many ways. It is Kohli’s 1st home series as a Test captain, a stern test of his capabilities both with the bat and leading his team against the no.1 Test side in the world. Not only are SA the best side currently but also they’ve historically troubled India the most, with a win % of 44.82% (13 wins in 29 Tests), South Africa have been India’s most difficult opponents in Tests, both at home and away. The Indian team has managed to win the series against the Proteas only twice in 23 years, both at home, not once in the last decade.

The last two series between these two nations in India have both been even contests with nothing to choose between them. This time, though, a four-match series offers a mouth-watering contest for the viewers given the closely fought ODI series.

India:

If you have followed Indian cricket for long enough, you’d know that in any home Test series, spin is going to be the key and that’s why the selectors have opted for Ravindra Jadeja who has been in red hot form in the Ranji Trophy. Ashwin’s return from injury will be a welcome addition for India as they missed dearly in the ODI series where AB de Villiers tormented them. With Ishant Sharma facing a one match ban, Kohli will have to opt for the pace battery of Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav whose power keeps fluctuating.

The biggest headache the management is going to have is what batsmen to pick for the first game. Vijay will make his return to the side and so will Cheteshwar Pujara who in the last game against Sri Lanka scored a match winning century at the top. KL Rahul too had shown promise with a century but for him to challenge Dhawan for a place is quite unexpected at this stage. Mumbai lads, Rahane and Rohit Sharma were the best Indian batsmen in the recently concluded ODI series and Kohli will hope that these two continue their run and make life easier for him and not put too much pressure on Wriddhiman Saha who is still finding feet in International Cricket. The final piece of this jigsaw puzzle is Ravindra Jadeja who if played will be picked as the fifth bowler and one of the names mentioned above will have to make way for him.

Even if Kohli decides to pick an XI without much headache, his biggest question, who will bat at number 3, 5 and 6 will make Indian fans sweat. In the Sri Lanka series India tried both Rahane and Rohit at that spot while only Rahane was successful. But with the inclusion of Pujara, that piece too is complicated.

Indian bowling though is going to heavily bank on Ashwin and Mishra as it was the case in the Sri Lanka series. The onus will be on fast bowlers to take a few wickets early on at the top and relieve the burden stress from the spinners.

The Indian team will have to make sure that it is well settled going into this marathon of a Test series and assure every player of their roles and responsibilities as they prepare to take on the Proteas.

South Africa:

South Africa who have the upper hand going into the Test series, would like to keep it that way. Their Test outfit would be quite different from their ODI team. With the likes of Miller, Kock, Behardien, Morris all going out, South Africa have brought in Van Zyl, Bavuma, Philander, Vilas in the side.

While Steyn and Morkel will be South Africa’s go to fast bowlers, it will be interesting to see what kind of bowling combination to go in with on the turning wickets. Will they play both Tahir and Piedt? Will Rabada get a look in before Vernon Philander? Will JP Duminy be fit for the 1^st Test? Such questions will be doing rounds in the South African dressing room.

De Villiers and Fad Du Plessis, the rocks of the South African top order were in top form in the ODI series and will look to carry that into Tests. The form of their skipper however, is quite worrisome. Amla struggled to get going in the ODIs and he would probably take heart from his brilliant performances in the past to overcome his patch. Amla averages 102.87 in 10 innings in India and has scored 4 centuries. Indians have every reason to be wary of him because once he gets going, to get him out is as difficult as chewing stuck in your hair.

If you get these three out cheaply, South Africa will be in a spot of bother as their other batsmen aren’t as experienced and Indian spinners will make merry of that fact. Steyn and Co. too will be keen on unleashing themselves on the Indian batsmen and stifle them, not allowing them to score freely.

The next month will be quite exciting as two of the most competitive sides under two of the most contrasting captains will go toe to toe to outdo each other.

The Ground:

The first Test will be played at the PCA Stadium Mohali which offers assistance to pace bowlers and has truer bounce will give the spectators an even contest. Ravi Shastri though has asked for a spinning track and it is to be seen what the dry pitch offers to the players on the first day.India has enjoyed some success at this ground, losing only one of the 11 Tests played here and winning 5. This is the first time India will play South Africa at Mohali.

Head to Head:

South Africa have a 13-7 advantage in the 29 games played between these two teams. In India though, South Africa and India have shared the success winning 5 games apiece and drawing 2.

Stat Alert:

Hashim Amla already has scored the most runs by a South African batsman in India. During the course of this series, he has the chance to become the 1^st South African batsman to score 1000 runs in India, his current record is 823 runs in 6 Tests at an average of 102.87 with 4 centuries.

Dale Steyn stands tall at 90 wickets in the sub-continent and during the course of this series might as well become the first overseas fast bowler to take 100 test wickets in Asia.

Probable XI:

India:

Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra/Stuart Binny/Amit Mishra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav

South Africa:

Hashim Amla (Captain), AB De Villiers, Dane Vilas, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Stan Van Zyl/Temba Bavuma, Simon Harmer/Kagiso Rabada/Vernon Philander/Dane Piedt, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir