NEW DELHI: India will play two Tests against South Africa, beginning on Tuesday at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The Indian team is aiming to make history by winning a Test series for the first time in a nation where they have previously come near but failed.
Since the inaugural series in 1992, South Africa have won seven of India's eight visits, with one series ending in a draw in 2010-11. However, six of those victories came by a narrow margin.
On the eve of the Boxing Day Test, the BCCI shared a video of the Indian cricket team gearing up for the crucial clash:
India might now believe that this is their best opportunity ever. This South African team, especially their top six, can be fragile; they lack the bat and ball expertise and talent of teams from earlier eras.
Key fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, who might be a handful on what is predicted to be a lively Centurion pitch in the first Test, also have late fitness tests to undergo before the series proceeds to Newlands in Cape Town for the second match starting on January 3.
India is still a strong team despite a few injured players, and their two consecutive series victories in Australia have given them confidence that they can summit this particular Everest.
1/10:India aim to end South Africa Test series jinx
PTI
2/10:Final frontier
<p>India will seek to breach the 'final frontier' for their Test team when they begin a two-match series at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday.</p>PTI
3/10:Elusive win
<p>South Africa is the only regular Test-playing country where India are yet to win a series.</p>PTI
4/10:Virat Kohli
<p>Virat Kohli led a strong Indian team in 2021/22, with high expectations after successful tours of Australia and England. </p>PTI
5/10:Centurion
<p>India won the first Test at Centurion but South Africa succeeded in two hard-fought fourth innings chases in the remaining matches to clinch the series.</p>PTI
6/10:The TV review
<p>Virat Kohli's frustration boiled over when a television review at a crucial moment in the decisive match went in favour of then-captain Dean Elgar. </p>PTI
7/10:Test captaincy
<p>Virat Kohli had resigned as Test captain the day after the match.</p>PTI
8/10:Dean Elgar
<p>Dean Elgar, who will retire from international cricket after the second Test in Cape Town, was axed as captain after a shake-up of the Test side earlier this year. </p>Getty Images
9/10:Batting question marks
<p>India have question marks over their batting, with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane no longer in their plans. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Jasprit Bumrah
<p>India will be without fast bowler Mohammed Shami because of injury but Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will still spearhead a potent attack.</p>PTIPacer Mohammed Shami is ruled out due to injury, while batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad is also out. This week, Virat Kohli took a plane home for private matters, but is back for the opening test.
After 32 matches with 24 victories and 8 losses, South Africa have not drawn a Test at home since a rain-shortened encounter against New Zealand in 2016.
That is a tribute to the consistent weather, the optimistic kind of cricket they play, and their pitches, which rank among the hardest in the world for hitters with plenty of swing, seam, and spin available throughout the course of the five days.
