The most looked-forward India- South Africa cricket test series will begin from 5th January 2018 at Cape Town, South Africa. It promises to be a highly contested series between top two teams in the cricketing world.
Team India will look to create history as they have not won any series so far but only won 2 test matches in South Africa in the past 6 test series from 1992. Both teams have top quality players that have the ability to change the course of a game.
Here we look at the top 6 players which will decide the fate of India- South Africa test series
- Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara, with the best sound batting technique in the entire team, would play a key role coming at number 3 and facing top quality bowling attack in South Africa. He has played a key role in India’s success during 2017, scoring 1140 runs in 11 matches (18 innings) with an average of 67.05. His best score was 202 against Australia.
Pujara has visited South Africa twice in 2010 and 2013. He has played 4 test matches in South Africa scoring 311 runs at an average of 44.42. His best score was 153 in 2013 tour at Johannesburg. He is much-improved batsman today and his experience in British county cricket would back him to contribute vital runs and build long partnerships
- AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers will play a key role in South Africa batting at number 4. His record against India was good with 493 runs from 8 matches (14 innings) with an average of 35.21 in the last 6 series. His recent performance in 2017 in the day & night test match against Zimbabwe was also reasonable with a score of 53 off 67 balls.
He will be playing against a top quality team after some time. If South Africa has to score big runs, then AB de Villiers’ contribution has to be of great value-add is expected the rise to the occasion and play with positive intent and put pressure on the Indian bowlers.
- Ajinkya Rahane
Yet another reliable batsman for India with sound technique and temperament in overseas conditions would play a key role during the upcoming test series against South Africa. In 2017, Rahane struggled in test matches scoring 557 runs from 11 matches. But in South Africa conditions, his record was decent enough as he has played only 2 test matches and scored 209 runs with an average of 69.66.
His role at number 5 would be important and needs to show positive intent against South African attack so that team India can post a massive total. He would also save at least 20-30 runs with his excellent fielding skills and good catching ability
- Quinton de Kock
The explosive left-handed batsmen and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock will play a key role coming at number 6. In 2017, he scored 619 runs from 12 matches (19 innings) with an average 36.41. His best score in test matches during 2017 was 101 against Sri Lanka. He can change the course of the game with his stroke play.
With a career record of 99 catches and 7 stumpings, Quinton de Kock would play a key role behind the stumps in guiding the bowlers on line and length of the bowl. If Quinton can do well both with the wickets and batting coming lower down the order, South Africa has the advantage to win test series.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the main pace bowlers in this Indian test team. He can swing the new ball on both sides and trouble the South African batsmen with pace & swing. In 2017, Kumar played only 3 matches and took 11 wickets with best figures of 4/8 at an economy of 2.67 runs per over. His bowling contribution in shorter forms of the game in 2017 has also been brilliant.
In the South African pitches that are helpful for fast bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar needs to pick-up early wickets to create pressure on South African batsmen with swing, stump to stump bowling. If India is to win test matches in South Africa, Kumar has to bowl well with both new and old ball.
- Kagiso Rabada
The young South African pacer Kagiso Rabada had a great 2017 season in test matches. He finished as the 2nd leading wicket taker with 57 wickets in 11 matches (20 innings). His ability to bowl quick and surprise the batsmen makes him a top quality bowler on the team these days.
He will be the worst threat to the Indian batsmen with his all-time record of 5 wickets in an innings 7 times and 10 wickets in a match thrice. Gifted with his height, he would create bounce and pace, to trouble the Indian batsmen who may find it difficult to adjust to the pace and bounce. Rabada can be threatening by picking up wickets regularly and become be the main hurdle in India’s dream of creating a history of overseas series win test matches.
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis Captains of Indian and South African teams are expected to contribute a lot with their aggression and leading from the front attitude and of course steering every individual of their respective teams by utilizing their potential to contribute their best.