While an annihilation of the English has been thoroughly entertaining this summer, another blockbuster series awaits on Boxing Day, with the commencement of India’s tour of South Africa.
South Africa remains the only place where the Indian Test side are yet to win, but this time they will feel the wait must end.
South Africa are still in a rebuilding period, but at home they still possess many strengths.
The fact that India are continuing with this series is commendable, with omicron ripping through at the moment.
South Africa have already had the heartbreak of England, Australia and the Netherlands pulling out of their respective tours in recent times.
The series will be played behind closed doors.
Teams
The India squad has a couple of notable absences. One is the newly appointed Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who was India’s best batsman in England.
Another is premier all-rounder Ravi Jadeja. That will mean that the team combination will be slightly different. Shubman Gill is also unavailable due to injury.
Due to Jadeja’s absence, India should play a six-batsman, four-bowler combination.
Ajinkya Rahane was dropped for the second Test against New Zealand (though the BCCI cited it as injury) and he has been relieved of vice-captaincy duties, and he still shouldn’t make the side.
(Photo by William West/AFP via Getty Images)
Likewise, Cheteshwar Pujara is on his last legs. Another poor series could be curtains for him.
I’d like to see the management continue to back Shreyas Iyer, as well as a return to the side for Hanuma Vihari.
Virat Kohli is back to his most successful overseas conditions as his quest for a long-awaited century continues. He averages 55.80 and 87.70 in Tests and ODIs respectively in SA.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Shardul Thakur are both handy with the bat, but I don’t think either should be trusted to bat in the top seven.
Therefore, conditions will dictate which one of the two should play. My playing XI is as follows: Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
South Africa also picked a large squad, with a few fresh faces.
They have been rocked by the injury of rapid quick Anrich Nortje, who was having a very impressive 2021.
This means that Duanne Olivier is set for a Test return after a three-year hiatus after he signed a Kolpak deal in England.
He has very impressive numbers in Test cricket and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.
He should be backed up adequately by Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Vice-captain Temba Bavuma also returns after missing the West Indies series.
South African fans will be desperately hoping he can add to his solitary Test hundred.
South Africa will be mulling whether to play an all-rounder or six batsmen, with Wiaan Mulder competing for that role with six-foot-eight rookie Marco Jansen.
Quinton de Kock will only play the first Test, due to paternity leave. He is a huge loss to the side.
My South African cricket knowledge isn’t extensive, but here’s my attempt of a playing XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi.
(Photo by Christiaan Kotze / AFP via Getty Images)
Flashback
India’s last tour of South Africa was in 2018, and it was an exhilarating series.
South Africa held their nerve in the first couple of Tests to take the series, but India fought well to win the last match on a spicy Wanderers pitch.
Since then, SA have had the likes of Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander retire, while India will be relying on the experiences of their bowlers from last time.
Similar green mamba conditions from South African curators this time may doom the side rather than provide assistance.
Final prediction
This series, like all of India’s major overseas tours, will be intense and closely fought.
India start as solid favourites, but their batting could still be fragile.
SA have enough to be competitive but there’s doubts if it’s enough to be consistent.
My prediction is 2-1 to India, however rain may spoil the party in the first Test.
Brian
Guest
Should be close. Both have good pace attacks bowling in reasonable bowling conditions. So it's who can eek out runs. 2 keys for SA are Markram and Van Der Dussen, Kohl key for india
Kailash
Roar Rookie
Shardul thakur will be the bowling allrounder in the side.He will start the series.5th batter will be tossup between vihari and iyer.If they struggle,then only rahane come into the side.Giving kl Rahul the vice captaincy in absence of Rohit sharma is enough indication of that.
Targa
Roar Rookie
De Kock will be a massive loss. I think if SA want to win Markram and Elgar will need to bat well or else India's depth might be too much (although Jadeja is also a very big loss).
Targa
Roar Rookie
As a Kiwi I will be watching with interest - should be closer than the Ashes and South Africa are touring NZ later in the season. Also I see we can get our no 1 ranking back if SA draw (or win) and we beat Bangladesh 2-0.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I however do not see India as solid favorites .. ..I would have things pretty even right now.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Not bad pitches ,, Lively pitches yes. Given the propensity of India's historic struggles with SA conditions and the sub standard SA batting line up , coupled with 2 World class bowling attacks , the batters are going to struggle for runs ..Those with strong technique will likely prevail..flaws are vicously exposed .......Kohli will be key to India's chances. If he doesn't come off then I will say advantage SA .. I live about 30 minutes from Centurion Park ...There has been an unbelievable amount of rain past few weeks ..Thankfully looks to be clearing , but this is going to even further green up the wicket .. In addition its The Proteas own fortress .. Last 26 Tests played here they have only lost twice ..
Arj
Roar Rookie
‘Don’t expect too many matches going the full distance’ You reckon they’ll be one sided games or just bad pitches?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
India’s problem playing in South Africa has always been their batting .. last series as stated here only Kholi made runs ..then again their quicks relished in the conditions and on the South African side it was only AB De Villiers who stood out . Both bowling attacks are good .Even with Nortje out , Olivier is a very good replacement ..By De Kock being unavailable it opens the door for the selection of the most exciting talent in SA Cricket right now Kyle Verrynne .. The fans , media , etc have been calling out the dimwits that run SA Cricket for a long time questioning , even baffled by his non selection.. He can keep , Bowls off spin and has a 1st class batting avg of 61..But its the erstwhile Bavuma that keeps getting the nod ahead of him ..He by comparison has a 1st class avg of 32 playing in the same competitions as Verrynne .. His Test avg is a whopping 30 ..That’s simply not good enough for a number 3 batsman in Test Cricket . I’ve said it before and l will repeat it ..There will never be a better time for India to record its first series win in SA ….But dnt expect too many matches going the full distance.
Arj
Roar Rookie
Yes he is still in the squad.
Arj
Roar Rookie
I am also sceptical of Vihari, but I think there’s enough grit there and his Sydney heroics perhaps earn him another chance. Also just before this series Vihari was part of an India A side that toured South Africa. He scored 227 runs at an average of 75.67. Hopefully those runs would have given him a decent chance of acclimatising to the conditions.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think this might be a case where averages can be deceiving. He averaged 96 in the West Indies, but has averaged 28 in England, 22 & 18 in Australia and 21 in New Zealand. If he averaged more than the guys you named, they must have struggled.
whymuds
Roar Rookie
Hi Paul, good write-up on Cricinfo on batting options. The key takeaway is that Vihari has mostly played overseas, and in those overseas tests he has averaged better than Che, Kohli, and about the same as Rahane. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/india-in-sa-202122-shreyas-iyer-hanuma-vihari-neither-or-both-1293789
Redcap
Roar Guru
Thanks Arj, Should be a very interesting series. Is Rahane out altogether, or still in the squad? I know a lot of Indian fans have been frustrated with him recently, but I still rate him as a batsman and an on-field leader.
Paul
Roar Guru
Nice summary Arj. I guess a lot depends on the sort of wickets South Africa produces. IN previous tours they've been nice & green, which has helped their attack. It's also highlighted how well Kohli played when most of the rest of the Indian batsmen struggled. I'm wondering why Vihari should get another game? There surely has to be better batsmen in India worth trying? As you say, it should be a terrific series.