Centurion: Virat Kohli bruised from being fired as an Indian-day captain’s offer to rebound by leading his country to a historic victory in South Africa in a three-match test series that began at Supersport Park on Sunday.
South Africa is the only country playing a regular exam where India has not won the series.
“We have worked very hard to win the series from India,” said Deputy Captain Kl Rahul at the Indian pre-match press conference on Friday.
💬 💬 We have a great week’s preparation.
Representatives @ Klrahahul11 take us through how #Teamindia gets …
https://t.co/8bzqqLd0lu-BCCI (@BCCI) 1640351430000 “We won a series in the UK and Australia, which gave us a lot of confidence.
We haven’t won A series in South Africa, which gave us the extra motivation to do the best.
“South African captain Dean Elgar said he thought the team was matched evenly.
“India is the number one in the world for a reason but the fact that we play in our own backyard give as an advantage.” Despite losing to New Zealand in the final of the world test championship last year, India is the top test team, five places in front of South Africa, who have lost several key players to retire in recent years.
Kohli leads an experienced side.
Most importantly, has the power of a quick bowling fire to match South Africa in conditions that usually support speed.
https://t.co/qq63FDIVTD- BCCI (@BCCI) 1640072129000NO Less than ten 18-men Indian men have toured in South Africa before.
Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav and Reserve Wriddhiman Saha are on a tour of their fourth in the country.
Ajinkya Rahane and Mohammed Shami are on their third tour, while Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah are part of the 2017/18 series which is tightly contested won by South Africa 2-1.
“We know what to expect and we have extraordinary preparations,” Rahul said.
“Speed and bounce are very different from other countries and it is very important that we come here early and have preparation in the middle.” Rahul indicates India is likely to maintain a recent strategy to choose five bowlers, which he admits will lead to “very difficult discussion” about settling in five specialist batsmen.
https://t.co/tytkkg1ena- BCCI (@BCCI) 1640002383000India has the luxury of choosing between players who are capable both in batting and bowling, while the choice of South Africa seems to be limited, especially because the quick Bowler Anrich Nortje withdrew from a hip injury series.
South Africa will, from the need, field line-up batting quality that is proven, with two players at the top six they have not yet printed the test century, while India may not be able to find a place to Shreyas Iyer, which scored 105 and 65 debuted against New Zealand last month .
Elgar Confirmed Star Wicketkeeper-Batsman Quinton de Kock is only available for the first test and then will take father leave, which will leave the limitation of a more vulnerable home team.
https://t.co/2raurlo9xe- BCCI (@BCCI) 1639923642000South Bowling Fast Africa remains its strength but Nortje loss is a big blow.
Many will depend on the former world number one Kagiso Rabada, whose form in the past two years has been moderate.
The host will also expect Lungi Ngidi who was hit by injuries to reclaim the form that allowed him to take 6-39 on his debut against India in the same venue in 2017/18.
In supporting South Africa, Centurion has become a fortress for the home team, with 21 wins and only two defeats in 26 tests in the venue.
Team: South Africa (Possible): Dean Elgar (Captain), Aiden Markram, Kegan Petersen, Rassie Van der Dussen, Toba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (WKT), Wianan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
India (from): Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Maya Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahana, Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer, Risabh Pant (WKT), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohamed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Priyank Panchal, Wriddhiman Saha (WKT).
Umpir: Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock (both RSA).
Umpire TV: Allahuddien paleker (RSA).
Referee match: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).
Virat’s India tried to conquer the last border in SA
