Highlights:
- India choose to bat in Centurion Test
- Into the ring with a combination of five bowlers
- Unexpected disappointment for Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer
- India have yet to win a series on safari soil
The Test series on South African soil has remained a dream for Team India for the past three decades. The Indian team has toured the country eight times so far and has failed to win the Test series at least once. The draw in 2011 was the only outstanding performance for India so far. However, Indian cricketers are confident that they will definitely win the series there this time.
India have not won at least one Test at Centurion so far. Team India lost by an innings in the Test played there in 2010. In 2018, they also lost by 135 runs. Looking at the head-to-head records, India do not have a better record against South Africa. India, who have played 20 Tests on safari soil so far, have won one-third and lost 10 matches. The remaining seven were drawn.
India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
South Africa (Playing XI): Dean Elgar (c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (w), Wian Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
.