Match Preview:
Indian team has never won a Test series in South Africa, and Kohli’s men will be eager to break the South Africa fortress. As per recent performance of both the teams, India will definitely feel their chances of winning this series. In last one year South Africa and India have played total of 18 test matches out of which Afirca have played only 5 whereas Indian team have played 13 which includes historic test series win in Australia.
But In centurion, South Africa’s 80.77 win percentage is by far the best for any team in test cricket at any venue. The venue has hosted 26 matches, out of which South Africa have won 21, and have lost only 2. So, It is tough to rule out Africa at their own backyard, and we are set to witness a cracker of the game between these two marquee sides.
Pitch Report:
SuperSport Park, Centurion
A lot of grass is present there on the pitch, and traditionally, at centurion, there is always good amount of support for fast bowler. As per captain Elgar, on 4th and 5th day spinners will get some turn.
Accumulatively, a challenging condition for batters and friendly condition for bowlers. Rain with thunderstrom is predicted on the first 2 days.
Last 3 Matches Test Scorecard Centurion
RSA VS Srilanka : RSA(621), SL (396)&(180)| RSA won by an inning and 45 runs (Pace: 23 Spin:4)
RSA vs England : RSA (284)&(272) | Eng(181)&(268) | RSA Won by 107 runs (Pace: 38 Spin:2)
RSA vs PAK: RSA(223 & 151/4)| PAK (181 & 190) | RSA won by 6 wickets. (Pace:31 Spin:2)
Indian Team Preview:
According to Indian vice captain KL Rahul, they are going to stick with 5 bowler policy, and with Jadeja ruled out of the tournament, Ashwin will make his way in the playing 11 along with S Thakur as an All rounder.
Indian middle order will be a cause of concern in this series but if stats to be believed then Kohli and Rahane are the one who averages more than 50 in South Africa in test cricket and Pujara has also some good knocks to his name. Accumulatively, Indian middle order has to score if they want a series win in Africa, as they are the most experienced player among the lot.
The only headache for Indian Team management will be for the 5th spot. They have 3 options in form of Iyer, Rahane and Vihari for one place. Rahane may get advantage of his good record in South Africa, he averages more than 50 in African condition, and Kohli may prefer experience in first match.
Probable 11 Of India:
KL Rahul (RHB)
Mayank Aggarwal (RHB)
C Pujara (RHB)
V Kohli (RHB)
A Rahane (RHB)
R Pant (RHB)
S Thakur(RHB + RAM)
R Ashwin (RHB +RAO)
Md Sahmi (RHB + RAF)
J Bumrah (RHB + RAF )
Md Siraj(RAF + RHB)
Team Breakup:
Main Batters: KL Rahul, Pujara, Kohli, M Aggarwal, Pant
Main Pacers: Md Shami, Bumrah, Siraj (S Thakur will assist them)
Main Spinners: R Ashwin
Stats and Analysis of the Players:
R Pant(LHB):
Test: 25 M, 42 I, 1549 R, 39.71 A, 67.67 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 12, 27, 17, 12, 4,
W Saha:(RHB):
H2H: 12 I, 172 R, 15.6 A, 39.8 SR
VENUE:
Test: 40 M, 56 I, 1353 R, 29.41 A, 45.50 SR
IN AFRICA: 1 M, 2 I, 8 R, 4.0 A, 29.62 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 15, 27, 1&61, 27&13,
V Kohli(RHB):
H2H: 20 I, 1075 R, 59.7 A, 60.6 SR,
VENUE: 2 I, 158 R, 79.0 A, 66.7 SR
TEST: 97 M, 164 I, 7801 R, 50.65 A, 56.40 SR
IN AFRICA: 5 M, 10 I, 558 R, 55.80 A, 57.94 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 11, 57, 9, 2, 0&36,
C Pujara(RHB):
H2H: 23 I, 758 R, 33.0 A, 42.9 SR
VENUE: 2 I, 19 R, 9.5 A, 39.6 SR,
Test: 92 M, 156 I, 6589 R, 44.82 A, 44.29 SR
IN AFRICA: 7 M, 13 I, 411 R, 31.61 A, 38.88 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE : 4&61, 26&22, 0&47,
KL Rahul(RHB):
H2H: 4 I, 30 R, 7.5 A, 29.7 SR,
VENUE: 2 I, 14 R, 7.0 A, 28.0 SR,
Test: 40 M, 68 I, 2321 R, 35.16 A, 54.12 SR
IN AFRICA: 2 I, 4 R, 30 R, 7.50 A, 29.70 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 69, 50, 54, 15, 65,
A Rahane(RHB+RAM):
H2H: 16 I, 748 R, 57.5 A, 50.8 SR,
VENUE:
Test: 79 M, 134 I, 4795 R, 39.30 A, 49.19 SR
IN AFRICA: 3 M, 6 I, 266 R, 53.20 A, 49.53 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 54, 17, 69, 71, 35&4,
M Agarwal(RHB):
H2H: 4 I, 340 R, 85.0 A, 55.2 SR,
VENUE:
Test: 16 M, 27 I, 1294 R, 47.92 A, 53.22 SR,
IN AFRICA:
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 28, 28, 4, 13&17, 150&62,
S Iyer(RHB+RAM):
ODI: 22 M, 20 I, 813 R, 42.78 A, 100.37 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 18, 31, 3, 5, 25,
TEST: 2 M, 4 I, 202 R, 50.50 A, 58.55 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 5, 25, 105&65, 18&14,
P Panchal(RHB):
FC: 100 M, 163 I, 7011 R, 45.52 A, 52.75 SR+ 53 I, 273 O, 14 W,
LISTA: 75 M, 75 I, 2854 R, 40.19 A, 78.79 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 79, 43, 0, 96, 24&0,
R Ashwin(RHB+RAO):
H2H: 13 I, 224 R, 22.4 A, 48.8 SR, + 19 I, 421 O, 53 W,
VENUE: 2 I, 41 R, 20.5 A, 68.3 SR,+ 2 I, 68 O, 5 W,
Test: 81 M, 114 I, 2755 R, 27.55 A, 53.88 SR+ 152 I, 3704 O, 427 W,
IN AFRICA: 3 M, 6 I, 108 R, 21.60 A, 63.90 SR+6 I, 118 O, 7 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 20/3, 23/2, 19/1, 38&32+82/3&35/3, 8/4&34/4,
H Vihari(RHB+RAO)
H2H: 1 I, 10 R, 10.0 A, 41.7 SR, + 1 I, 9 O, 0 W,
VENUE:
Test: 12 M, 21 I, 624 R, 32.84 A, 42.56 SR+ 10 I, 57 O, 5 W,
IN AFRICA:
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 57+24/0, 4+17/1, 25, 54&72, 63&13,
Jayant Yadav(RHB+RAO):
TEST: 5 M, 8 I, 246 R, 35.14 A, 44.16 SR+ 10 I, 120 O, 16 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 12/0, 23/2, 38/0, 15/0, 12&6+13/1&49/4,
I Sharma(RAM+RAM):
H2H: 27 I, 45 O, 31 W,
VENUE: 3 I, 66 O, 7 W,
Test: 105 M, 188 I, 3193 O, 311 W,
IN AFRICA: 7 M, 13 I, 251 O, 20 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 48/3&21/0, 69/3&13/2, 92/0, 35/0&20/0,
U Yadav(LAF):
H2H: 8 I, 81 O, 16 W,
VENUE:
Test: 51 M, 100 I, 1347 O, 156 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 16/0, 19/1, 10/1, 50/1&34/1, 7/0&19/0,
J Bumrah(RAF)
H2H: 6 I, 112 O, 14 W,
VENUE: 2 I, 42 O, 3 W,
Test: 24 M, 46 I, 866 O, 101 W,
IN AFRICA: 3 M, 6 I, 112 O, 14 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 22/0, 19/2, 25/1, 10/2, 19/2,
M Siraj(RAF):
Test: 10 M, 19 I, 296 O, 33 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 38/3, 19/1, 20/1, 39/1, 19/3&13/0,
M Shami (RAF):
H2H: 16 I, 233 O, 34 W,
VENUE: 2 I, 31 O, 5 W,
Test: 54 M, 102 I, 1633 O 195 W,
IN AFRICA: 5 M, 10 I, 158 O, 21 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 43/0, 11/0, 32/3, 15/3, 39/0,
S Thakur(RHB+RAM)
Test: 4 M, 6 I, 190 R, 38.0 A, 77.86 SR+ 7 I, 93 O, 14 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 38/3, 30/0, 17/0, 31/0
South Africa Team Preview
African team is going through transition in test cricket. They have lot of inexperienced player in their squad. Their most experienced players Amla, De Villiers and Du Plessis who have threatened Indian team the most, in recent past year, are not available, the former 2 is retired from international cricket, whereas Du Plessis is having some issues with board decisions, hence not selected.
The biggest setback for the host team was the injury news of A Nortje, their best pacer of 2021. With the loss of A Nortje, African team has still lot of fire power in their bowling attack and all are able to change the game momentum on their day. In absence of Nortje, Rabada will lead the pace battery, and he has the best ally in form of Ngidi, D Olivier who are able to exploit the home condition.
In batting department, they have Elgar, Markram, R Dussen at the top, and all of them are technically solid but will be tested against Indian top quality bowling attack. In middle order, they have some experience in form of De Kock and limited over captain T Bavuma, and fate of this match can be decided by their performances.
Probable 11 Of South Africa:
1 Dean Elgar (capt) (LHB)
2 Aiden Markram (RHB + RAO)
3 Keegan Petersen (RHB + LEGBREAK)
4 Rassie van der Dussen (RHB)
5 Temba Bavuma (RHB)
6 Quinton de Kock (wk)(LHB)
7 Wiaan Mulder(RHB+RAM)
8 Keshav Maharaj(RHB + LAO)
9 Kagiso Rabada(RAF)
10 Lungi Ngidi(RAFM)
11 Duanne Olivier(RAFM)
Main Batters: D Elgar, Markram, Dussen , De Kock, T Bavuma
Main Pacers: L Ngidi, D Olivier, Rabada
Main Spinners: K Maharaj
Stats and Analysis of the Players:
Q de Kock(LHB):
H2H: 12 I, 227 R, 18.9 A, 72.8 SR,
VENUE: 11 I, 492 R, 61.5 A, 90.4 SR,
Test: 53 M 89 I , 3245 R, 39.09 A, 71.14 SR
IN AFRICA: 30 M, 48 I, 1872 R, 42.54 A, 73.96 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 6, 7, 12, 16, 34,
K Verreynne(RHB):
Test: 2 M, 3 I, 39 R, 13.0 A, 33.62 SR
FC: 50 M, 76 I, 3429 R, 51.95 A, 59.62 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 10, 20&5, 42, 6&50, 95,
R Rickelton(LHB):
FC: 34 M, 56 I, 2643 R, 49.86 A, 57.04 SR
LISTA: 51 M, 50 I, 2112 R, 48.0 A, 88.66 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 3, 17, 159, 5, 117,
D Elgar(LHB+LAO):
H2H: 19 I, 576 R, 33.9 A, 42.0 SR,+ 7 I, 48 O, 6 W,
VENUE: 11 I 337 R, 30.6 A, 54.1 SR, + 4 I, 11 O, 1 W,
Test: 69 M, 120 I, 4347 R, 39.51 A, 46.99 SR+44 I, 171 O, 15 W,
IN AFRICA: 39 M, 21 I, 85 O, 6 W, +66 I 2647 R, 46.50 A, 49.35 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 3, 41, 7, 117, 5&5,
T Bavuma(RHB):
H2H: 8 I, 152 R, 19.0 A, 43.1 SR,
VENUE: 7 I, 298 R, 74.5 A, 50.9 SR,
Test: 44 M, 73 I, 2097 R, 32.26 A, 47.70 SR
IN AFRICA: 24 M, 38 I, 1028 R, 33.16 A, 51.63 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 46, 12, 2, 46, 31,
A Markram(RHB+RAO)
H2H: 10 I, 184 R, 18.4 A, 56.4 SR, +1 I, 2 O, 0 W,
VENUE: 7 I, 197 R, 28.1 A, 65.4 W, + 1 I, 3 O, 0 W,
Test: 26 M 47 I, 1824 R, 39.65 A, 59.47 SR+ 11 I, 33 O, 0 W,
IN AFRICA: 18 M, 32 I, 1449 R, 46.74 A, 65.50 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 40, 51+22/0, 19+8/0, 0, 52+18/0,
R Van der dussen(RHB):
H2H:
VENUE:2 I, 72 R, 24.0 A, 50.3 SR,
Test: 10 M, 17 I, 610 R, 38.12 A, 43.17 SR
IN AFRICA: 6 M, 10 I, 356 R, 35.60 A, 43.46 SR
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 2, 43, 16, 22, 94 R,
K Petersen(RHB+LES)
Test: 2 M, 3 I, 44 R, 14.66 A, 49.43 SR
FC: 103 M, 171 I, 6314 R, 40.73 A, 53.41 SR+17 I, 47 O, 3 W
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 2, 56, 41, 57&43, 54,
S Erwee(LHB+RAO)
FC: 95 M, 162 I, 5838 R, 38.66 A, 112.73 SR+ 25 I, 99 O, 7 W,
LISTA: 74 M, 71 I, 2607 R, 40.10 A, 83.85 SR+ 8 I, 25 O, 0 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 2, 163, 0, 38&41, 75&97,
G Linde(LHB+LAO):
H2H: 2 I, 64 R, 32.00 A, 47.1 SR, + 1 I, 31 O, 4 W,
VENUE:
Test: 3 M, 6 I, 135 R, 22.50 A, 52.94 SR+ 5 I, 78 O, 9 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 21/2, 9+40/1, 18+32/2, 51+32/1, 44&1+58/1&22/0,
P Subrayen(RHB+RAO):
FC: 56 M, 74 I, 1117 R, 17.73 A, 51.45 SR+ 84 I, 1613 O, 145 W,
LISTA: 74 M, 48 I, 768 R, 22.58 A, 80.41 SR+70 I, 534 O, 67 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 40/1, 16/2, 78/0, 20+59/0, 2+32/0,
W Mulder(RHB+RAM)
H2H:
VENUE: 1 I, 36 R, 36.0 A, 57.1 SR+2 I, 32 O, 5 W
Test: 6 M, 9 I, 143 R, 15.88 A, 44.27 SR+ 12 I, 99 O, 14 W,
IN AFRICA: 3 M, 4 I, 57 R, 14.25 A, 58.76 SR+ 6 I, 59 O, 10 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 11/1, 23/0, 38/1&38/2, 26/1&40/3,
K Rabada(RAF)
H2H: 15 I, 243 O, 24 W,
VENUE: 10 I, 174 O, 34 W,
Test: 47 M, 86 I, 1464 O, 213 W,
IN AFRICA: 26 M, 49 I, 799 O, 141 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 28/1, 27/1, 32/0, 20/3, 48/3,
K Maharaj(RHB+LAO)
H2H: 8 I, 177 R, 22.1 A, 49.3 SR+7 I, 163 O, 7 W,
VENUE: 6 I, 118 R, 19.7 A, 55.1 SR+ 8 I, 85 O, 3 W,
Test: 36 M, 57 I, 739 R, 14.49 A, 57.33 SR+ 65 I, 1305 O, 129 W,
IN AFRICA: 19 M, 28 I, 445 R, 17.80 A, 65.53 SR+34 I 549 O, 52 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 24/2, 34/0, 23/0, 23/0, 18+6/0,
D Olivier(RAF)
H2H:
VENUE: 2 I, 29 O, 11 W,
Test: 10 M, 20 I, 240 O, 48 W,
IN AFRICA: 8 M, 16 I, 196 O, 41 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 51/4&58/3, 27/2&15/2, 38/4&57/5, 53/5&13/3,
L Ngidi(RAF):
H2H: 5 I, 73 O, 9 W,
VENUE: 4 I, 55 O, 10 W,
Test: 10 M, 19 I, 241 O, 32 W,
IN AFRICA: 5 M, 10 I, 133 O, 21 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 33/0, 18/2, 14/1, 27/2, 18/0,
B Hendricks(LAF):
Test: 1 M, 2 I, 38 O, 6 W,
FC: 96 M, 167 I, 296 O, 112 W,
IN ASIA: 1 M, 2 I, 38 O, 6 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 18/1, 36/1, 44/1&35/0, 42/0, 49/0&33/0,
S Magala(RAF):
FC: 89 M, 156 I, 2158 O, 261 W,
LISTA: 104 M, 96 I, 345 O, 117 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 18/1, 24/2&36/1, 14/0&30/6, 83/4&28/2,
M Jansen(LAF):
FC: 19 M, 32 I, 503 O, 70 W,
LISTA: 13 M, 13 I, 83 O, 16 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 31/3&54/1, 38/6, 44/0, 70&28+44/3&24/0, 48/3&31/0,
G Stuurman(RAF):
FC: 54 M, 99 I, 1513 O 205 W,
LISTA: 36 M, 34 I, 255 O, 45 W,
LAST FIVE MATCH SCORE: 18/2, 34/5&59/1, 51/2, 91/0, 48/4&51/3,
