IND vs SA 1st Test: The first match of the two-Test series between India and South Africa (IND vs SA) will be played from Tuesday, 26 December in Johannesburg (SuperSport Park, Centurion). The Indian team, captained by Rohit Sharma, will be eyeing to end the year on a high note by winning the first Test. At the same time, South Africa would like to make a strong start by maintaining its dominance over the visiting team. The Indian team has not been able to win any series on South African soil in the history of Test cricket.
Let us tell you that the Indian team can enter the first test with three fast bowlers and Shardul Thakur. Ravindra Jadeja can be the only spinner. KL Rahul can be seen in the role of wicketkeeper batsman. He will bat in the middle order. It is considered certain that Yashasvi Jaiswal will get a chance in the top order. Jaiswal will start the innings with captain Rohit. Shubman Gill will be seen batting at number three while Virat Kohli will be seen at number four.
Captain Temba Bavuma, who took a break from ODI and T20 cricket after the World Cup last month, is returning to competitive cricket with the first Test. Along with him, fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are also completely fit to trouble the Indian team with their bowling. The only spinner of the team will be Keshav Maharaj, who can also prove useful with the bat in the lower order. The reins of the middle order will be in the hands of Aiden Markram and in-form Tony De Georgi.
So far 42 test matches have been played between India and South Africa. During this period, the Indian team has been successful in winning 15 matches while the host team South Africa has tasted victory in 17 matches. 10 matches between the two teams have ended in a draw. So far, the two teams have clashed in 23 Test matches on South African soil, in which India has won four times and the host team has won 12 times. At the same time, seven matches have been drawn.
The Boxing-Day Test will be played at the SuperSport Park Stadium in Centurion. This ground has proved good for South Africa. The pitch here proves helpful for fast bowlers and it is among the fastest pitches in South Africa. Indian batsmen may face problems due to extra bounce. After spending time at the crease, it will become easier for the batsmen to score runs. But spinners may have to struggle. The average score of the teams batting first here is 330 runs.
Probable playing XI of both the teams India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Keegan Pietersen, Tony DeGeorge, Kyle Verreynne, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Berger.
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