South Africa v India, Test series, 2018 – Statistical Preview

The much-awaited Test series between South Africa and India is set to start from Friday in Cape Town which has a lot of stakes for both the sides. India will be aiming to end their series drought in South Africa and register the record 10th straight series win while the hosts look to narrow down the gap between them at India in the ICC Test team rankings. The series is set to offer a tough challenge for top players on either side who are considered to be the best among the lot.

Here are the key stats and numbers to look out ahead of the South Africa-India Test series:

0 – India are yet to win a Test series on the South African soil. In the 17 Test matches India played in South Africa, they won only two – in Johannesburg, 2006 and in Durban, 2010. South Africa eight out those 17 Tests while seven other ended in a draw.

1 – India lost the first Test of their last five Test series outside Asia on two occasions winning in only on one occasion. India lost their first match of Test series in New Zealand and Australia by 40 and 48 run-margins respectively.

8.88 – Rohit Sharma averages 8.88 against South Africa with the bat in Test cricket. This is the 2nd lowest batting average for a top order batsman in South Africa-India Tests. (Min: 5 innings) Rohit aggregated 71 runs in eight innings against South Africa. Dane Vilas averaged 8.57 in seven innings against India.

14.61 – Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling average in Test cricket against South Africa. He bagged 31 wickets in five Tests against the Saffers with four 5-fers. Ravindra Jadeja took 29 wickets in five games with an even better average of 13.9.

40.11 – AB de Villiers’ batting average of 40.11 in Test cricket against India is his lowest against any opponent. (Min: 1000 runs) De Villiers scored 1123 runs in 29 innings with three hundreds and four fifties against India. Faf du Plessis (25.7) and Dean Elgar (19.57) also have low average against India in this format.

63 – Dale Steyn’s 63 wickets in the South Africa-India are the most for a South African player and overall the 3rd most behind Anil Kumble (84) and Javagal Srinath (64). Steyn averages 21.41 against India in 13 Tests with five 5-fers.

1325 – Hashim Amla’s 1325 runs in the South Africa-India Test matches are the most among the players from current squads and overall the 3rd most behind Sachin Tendulkar (1741) and Jacques Kallis (1734). Amla averaged 45.69 with five hundreds and four fifties against India. Amla’s average against them is his lowest among the six opponents against whom he batted more than 20 innings.