Any Test series between the teams ranked first and third in the world rankings is eagerly awaited and the upcoming three-match series between India and South Africa is no exception.
There is added pressure nowadays, of course, with results counting towards the new World Test Championship. The ICC competitions began on 1 August this year with the first Test of the 2019 Ashes series and will finish with a final at Lord’s in June 2021 between the two countries who have acculumated most victories in their designated matches.
This is the first involvement for both India and South Africa and it is hoped the competition encourages selectors to pick their strongest sides for all matches, even if a series has been lost.
India Team News and Form
Wriddhiman Saha is to replace the struggling Rishabh Pant behind the stumps in the Indian line-up for the First Test. Though now 34, Saha played in both Tests in India’s recent victory over the Wrest Indies and proved his fitness after a string of injuries. The much-younger Pant still has a future but is being rested to work on his batting technique. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will both play in the First Test in Visakhapatnam and Hanuma Vihari is also included.
Rohit Sharma is given another chance at the top of the order but there is no place for either Shikhar Dhawan or KL Rahul in Virat Kohli’s team.
South Africa were the last tourists to win a Test series in India but that was almost 20 years ago which underlines the enormity of the task facing the Proteas and explains why India are hot favourites to win their latest series (1/5 with Betway). India have won four of their five Test series since losing in South Africa in early 2018.
South Africa Team News and Form
If any team are going to end India’s long unbeaten home record in Test cricket, it is likely to be South Africa.
They have won have won three and drawn one of their last five Test series against India, a record that far surpasses any other country in world cricket. Though it’s believed that South African cricket is currently undergoing a transitional period, a record of nine wins in their last 12 Test series suggests that the effects of any upheaval have been cleverly managed, though a couple of recent defeats against Sri Lanka have knocked confidence.
Faf de Plessis is leading the South Africa Test team in India with Temba Bavuma as his vice-captain. T20 captain Quinton de Kock will keep wicket and Dean Elgar, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada will all feature but otherwise this looks an inexperienced line-up to be taking on the world’s top-ranked team on their own patch.
India v South Africa Test Head-to-Heads
South Africa do have remarkable record against India having won three and drawn three of their last seven series, home and away.
India v South Africa Test Series Current Best Odds – can the Proteas prove a thorn in the side of their hosts again?
India 1/5, Draw 8/1, South Africa 9/1 (Odds correct at 10.45am October 1)
India v South Africa Test Series Predictions
South Africa may be lacking a bit of experience but they have batsmen in their squad who can thrive on spinning wickets and India may not find it as easy as the odds suggest to come out on top. Unsurprisingly, Kohli is a strong favourite to be India’s top batsman in the series at 6/4 with Betvictor.
