The much-anticipated three-match Test series between India and South Africa is all set to commence on December 26 (Sunday) at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The series will be a part of the second cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23. India are on the advantage heading into the first test.
South African pacer Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the Test series. Former Indian cricketers are seeing this as a very big advantage for the Indian team.
Both teams have batting concerns heading into the first Test and the series, while their bowling attack seems well-rounded. India have a battery of pacers while South Africa with Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Duanne Olivier pose a threat to the Indian middle-order which has been short of runs.
Meanwhile, here are the three key milestones for the Indian players that can be achieved in Centurion.
Centurion Test Milestones For Indian Players
Mohammed Shami-: 5 Wickets Shy Of 200 Test Wickets
Shami along with Jasprit Byumrah has become India’s most dependable bowler in the longest format of the game. In the last two ways, he has shown tremendous consistency in the number of matches played and his fitness as well.
He has grabbed 195 wickets from 54 matches at an average of 27.57. The Indian pacer is a confirmed starter in Centurion along with Bumrah. He is eyeing up 200 Test wickets and is just five away from getting to the landmark. It is very possible that Shami makes it in the first Test of the series.
Ravichandran Ashwin- Need 8 Wickets To Surpass Kapil Dev’s Tally
Ashwin is currently on 427 Test wickets and needs 8 more wickets to surpass Kapil Dev’s tally of 435 Test wickets. Ashwin was the Man of the Series in the recent home series against New Zealand. Should he get eight wickets in Centurion, he will leapfrog the former Indian skipper to become the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests.
Ajinkya Rahane-Needs 3 Shy Of Completing 100 Test Catches
Rahane has endured a very tough time in test cricket over the last two years. Barring his match-winning century in the MCG Test, runs have been far and few from his bat. It will be interesting to see if the Indian team management is willing enough to give him a spot in the first Test.
Should he get it, he has a chance to get to 100 test catches if he takes three in the match.
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