Team India will take on South Africa in a three-match Test series starting on 26th December in Centurion. The test series is part of the new World Test Championship cycle 2021-23.
Team India does not have a great record in the rainbow nation winning only 3 matches and losing 10 while 7 games ended in a draw. Virat Kohli & Co, who came to win a series in 2018, will look to quench the fortress that has eluded them for 29 years.
On that note, let’s look at the top 5 players to watch out for in the Test series between India and South Africa.
#5 Dean Elgar
South Africa Test skipper Dean Elgar is expected to lead the team from the front as the side goes through a transition period. Elgar. a veteran of 69 Tests, has significant experience of playing against top teams, and will be eyeing big runs against Indian quicks. The southpaw has so far scored 4347 runs, including 17 fifties and 13 centuries.
Moreover, with Quinton de Kock set to miss a part of the India Test series on paternity leave, Dean Elgar could have extra responsibility on his shoulders.
#4 Virat Kohli
India Test skipper Virat Kohli will be beginning the high-profile series against South Africa under intense scrutiny over his captaincy and recent form with the bat.
He is long due for a century in international; a period extending a little over 2 years, to be precise. However, Kohli has a superlative record in South Africa and is expected to hit the chords once again.
In South Africa, he’s played 10 Tests in the past, scoring 558 runs at an average of 55.80. His feat includes two centuries and fifties each. Virat Kohli will hope to continue his good form from the previous series and look to help team India win the first series in the rainbow nation.
Moreover, with Rohit Sharma ruled out of the series, Virat Kohli will have extra responsibility on his shoulders.
#3 Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami will also return to the Test team after being rested for the home series against New Zealand. With 194 wickets in 54 Test matches under his belt, Shami will lead the pace attack along with Jasprit Bumrah.
Last time around when Team India toured South Africa for a Test series, Shami was the second-highest wicket-taker overall in the series with 16 wickets in 3 matches under his belt, including a five-wicket haul in Team India’s only win during the 3rd Test match in Johannesburg.
With the conditions in South Africa flavoring seam and swing bowlers, Shami is a player to watch out for.
#2 Kagiso Rabada
With Anrich Nortje ruled out of the Test series due to injury, Kagiso Rabada will be the leader of the pace bowling attack. Rabada has impressed one and all with the ability to take wickets with the new ball. So far, Rabada has scalped 213 wickets in 47 matches.
Though Rabada isn’t in good form recently, he is a force to reckon in South African conditions. He will certainly fancy his chances against Indian batters in the upcoming three-match series.
#1 Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is making a comeback into the Indian team after a significant break from international duties after the T20 World Cup. He was rested for the entire home series against New Zealand.
A fresh and rejuvenated Bumrah will certainly make some noise with his ball against the Proteas. He has a very good record against the Proteas when he toured in 2018, taking 14 wickets in three matches at 25.21, with 5/54 in Johannesburg as his best.
Incidentally, it was South Africa where Jasprit Bumrah made his Test debut and has not looked back ever since. So far, Bumrah has taken 101 wickets in 24 Tests at 22.79 average, which includes six 5-wicket hauls.
Bumrah is expected to do well against the young South African batting lineup.
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