As India shift focus to the longest format, they’re preparing for the South African problem within the first match of the 2-Test sequence, beginning Boxing Day – December 26 – in Centurion. The two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, are again within the combine a month after the heartbreaking World Cup 2023 ultimate. As head coach Rahul Dravid mentioned on the presser, the gamers are educated to maneuver on from heartbreaks and therefore, they’re now wanting ahead to qualifying for the 2025 World Test Championship ultimate.

Out of the 23 Tests India performed in South Africa, they’ve received solely 4. Also, the Indians have by no means received a Test sequence within the Rainbow and the forthcoming sequence is one other shot at rewriting historical past for Rohit Sharma & Co.

What: India vs South Africa  1st Test

When: December 26 – the Boxing Day

Where: SuperSport Park, Centurion

Start Time: 1:30 PM IST

Team News – India

While the likes of Rohit, Kohli and Jasroti Burmah return to motion, the eyes will even be on the children. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have by no means performed a Test match in South Africa and their calibre will probably be examined towards the Proteas assault on a spicy observe. With Jaiswal and Gill of attacking ilk, head coach Dravid believes the staff will encourage the younger batters to be themselves with the bat.

But concern looms over the averages of some famend faces which drops down on coming to South Africa. Rohit Sharma’s common of 46.54 crashes to fifteen.37, whereas KL Rahul’s slips to 25 from 33. It’s solely Kohli who has dominated on abroad soil with the bat as he averages greater than 50 in South Africa.

On the final tour of South Africa, Rahul batted as an opener and scored a superb hundred in Centurion to be adjudged the Player of the Match. He bought a fifty within the subsequent sport in Johannesburg after which his type took a success and runs dried up.

But this time round, the absence of Ishan Kishan will permit Rahul to maintain wickets and bat within the center order. It will probably be fascinating to see if the change in batting place does wonders for the Karnataka batter.

Meanwhile, the climate forecast for the primary two days of the Centurion Test predicts rain, which additional intensifies the bowling mixture debate. With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj being certainties, there will probably be a toss-up between Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna for the third pacer’s slot.

Moreover, questions are additionally on Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin being fielded collectively or would one in every of them make manner for a seam-bowling all-rounder in Shardul Thakur? Though the pinnacle coach didn’t drop a touch within the pre-match presser, the guests, in most chance, will take the sector with a pace-heavy assault.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has returned residence with an injured finger and Abhimanyu Easwaran has changed him within the squad.

South Africa Team News

The Proteas have been dominant towards India at residence. But the present batting unit won’t match the opposition when it comes to the common. Also, the person to be within the highlight is outgoing batter Dean Elgar who will probably be enjoying the final 2 Tests of his profession. He is one in every of solely three South African batters with a median of greater than 30. And as far Indians are involved, half of their possible prime six common greater than 40. Interesting, isn’t it?

“We’ve spoken about Dean, however it’s equally vital to blood the younger guys so that they really feel comfy on this surroundings so that they’re capable of play their finest cricket,” mentioned Temba Bavuma on Elgar.

But what has beaten the Indians in the Rainbow Nation is the pace. The last tour saw Kagiso Rabada picking up 20 wickets in 3 matches while Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi scalped 19 and 15, respectively. But currently, two of the prime pacers, Rabada and Ngidi, are trying to overcome heel and ankle issues.

Former Kolpak player David Bedingham likely to make debut while Kyle Verreynne, who was dropped for the two home Tests against West Indies earlier this year, is back in squad.

Squads:

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk).

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk).