India won the ODIs 2-1 and the T20I series ended in a draw, but the focus of this tour is now on red-ball cricket and the two Test matches between South Africa and India. Tuesday marks the start of the first Test of the 2023–2025 World Test Championship cycle in Centurion. At SuperSport Park, the Boxing Day Test begins at 10:00 local time.
The last time South Africa played Test cricket was at the beginning of March, but the team management prioritized this series after resting important players during the T20I and ODI series earlier in the month. South Africa’s team is full of talented and seasoned players.
India has advanced to the World Test Championship Final in each of the last two editions, but they have not yet taken the decisive action to win the match. Before the Centurion Test, they will be bursting with confidence because they have almost their first-choice side available.
RSA vs IND Team Preview & Squads
South Africa
It’s unclear if any of the three uncapped Test players they selected for the Boxing Day Test—Nandre Burger, David Bendingham, and Tristan Stubbs—will make the starting eleven. After taking a break from the T20Is, ODIs, and warm-up match, Kagiso Rabada is anticipated to participate.
The captain, Temba Bavuma, sustained an injury near the conclusion of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, but for the past month, he has been recovering. He will be extra eager to contribute after making two in his most recent Test match at Centurion. Tony de Zorzi, a left-hander, might be a great attacking option for South Africa in this Test after scoring 119 not out and 81 in the last two ODIs and hitting 85 in his previous Test debut.
At Centurion, right-arm quick bowler Kagiso Rabada produced his greatest bowling statistics in Test matches, with 13/144, and his best bowling statistics in innings, with 7/112. The all-round bowler Marco Jansen, who took 17 wickets in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, was one of the standout players. Having rested after the first two Twenty20 Internationals, he will be rejuvenated and ready to play.
South Africa Squads
South Africa Squads
Temba Bavuma (c), Kyle Verreynne (wk), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Kagiso Rabada / Nandre Burger, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj
India
In the ten days leading up to this match, Ishan Kishan has left for personal reasons, and Mohammed Shami and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been ruled out of the Indian team due to injuries. Abhimanyu Easwaraan is also anticipated to be called up, and KS Bharat was added to the team.
Even if former captain Virat Kohli has left home for private reasons, he should be back in time for the Test on Boxing Day, when he hopes to reach 80 international centuries. The right-handed opener Rohit Sharma enters this Test in excellent form having scored 43, 103, 80, and 57 in his previous four innings.
With 351 international wickets to his name, vice skipper Jasprit Bumrah will start this Test in Centurion having taken eight five-wicket catches in Test cricket. The all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is an essential member of this Indian team since he frequently forges significant bat partnerships and will receive lots of spin as the game goes on.
We anticipate that both teams will decide to bowl first if they win the toss in this match because both days of the Test are expected to be cloudy and rainy.
The five scheduled days of this Test Match could see rain delays on all but one of the forecasted days. Throughout this Test, the temperature will be in the mid-to low-twenties.
Only one of the four totals in the most recent Test played in Centurion was above 215. A dynamic surface is what we anticipate, with a first-inning par score of about 275.
RSA vs IND Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches
South Africa has 3 wins in the last five face-offs and India has two.
According to cricket analysts, India has a 51% chance to win.
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