India embarks on a historic quest as they confront hosts South Africa in a two-test series commencing in Pretoria on December 26, aspiring to secure their maiden series victory in a nation where previous attempts have fallen tantalizingly short.
In the eight visits to South Africa since their inaugural tour in 1992, India has only managed one drawn series in 2010/11, with the hosts emerging victorious on seven occasions. Notably, six of these victories were achieved by a slim one-win margin. The current tour presents an opportune moment for India, given the perceived lack of experience and quality in South Africa’s batting and bowling units, especially in the top six.
The hosts also grapple with late fitness concerns for key fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, who could pose a significant threat on the expected lively Centurion Park pitch in the initial test. The series will subsequently shift to Newlands in Cape Town for the second fixture starting on January 3.
South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad, acknowledges the significance of India’s quest for their first-ever series win on South African soil. “If it was possible to make this even bigger, the fact that India have never won here does that,” Conrad said. “We certainly want to hold on to that proud record.”
The two-test series adds an extra layer of intensity, akin to a heavyweight boxing bout, with pivotal matchups that could shape the outcome. India, despite some notable absentees due to injuries, maintains a formidable squad, buoyed by recent series victories in Australia.
Injuries have ruled out key players like leading seamer Mohammed Shami and batter Ruturaj Gaikwad. Additionally, Virat Kohli, who flew home for personal reasons, is expected to return for the first test.
Remarkably, South Africa has not played out a drawn test at home since 2016, underlining their dominance with 24 wins and eight defeats in the last 32 matches. The challenging batting conditions, characterized by swing, seam, and spin, make South African pitches among the most demanding globally.
India’s coach, Rahul Dravid, emphasizes the importance of a clear and adaptable game plan for the batters in such challenging conditions. “It is a challenging place to bat; the statistics will tell you that,” Dravid said. “We don’t expect everyone to play in the same way. We want them to be very clear about what works for them and then be able to execute that.”
