India vs South Africa, 1st Test: Preview, Fantasy XI Predictions, Pitch And Weather Reports

25.12.2023 - 14:33 sports.ndtv.com

South Africa will take on India in 1st Test of Freedom Trophy 2023-24 on December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa.

The match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM IST. SA vs IND pitch report The average score by the team batting first in the last 10 matches at this stadium is 377.

Batting first should be the preferred option at this stadium, with the team batting first winning 80 percent of its contests. SA vs IND weather report The weather at the SuperSport Park is predicted to be around 28 Degree Celsius accompanied by 40% humidity. SA vs IND Dream11 Prediction: Top captain and vice-captain picks: Virat Kohli: Kohli's average of 51 in South Africa is the highest of any Indian batter with at least 10 innings in the country.

The right-handed batter will look to maintain his good record against the Protease in their backyard. Aiden Markram: The onus will be on Aiden Markram to get crucial runs for his team.

cricket South Africa Cricket Team India Cricket Team South Africa vs India Test Virat Kohli Aiden Markram Rohit Sharma Marco Jansen Keegan Petersen Kyle Verreynne David Bedingham Tony De-Zorzi Tristan Stubbs Gerald Coetzee South Africa India county Park

Legendary India cricketer Ravi Shastri blasted the scheduling of the India-South Africa Test series as he called the two-match series a "waste of time". South Africa outplayed India completely in the first Test while the Rohit Sharma-led side claimed a historic win in the second Test match that lasted for just 107 overs. Shastri said on commentary that India should focus on playing either 'T20Is and Test matches or ODIs and Test matches' while touring and just refuse to play any two-match Test series in the future.

"Not Pleasing To...": Rohit Sharma On India's 6-Wickets-For-0-Run Collapse vs South Africa In Second Test

Rohit Sharma's countenance reflected his pain at India's failure to win a Test series in South Africa and breach the team's 'final frontier' but the skipper said on Thursday they "would take pride" from their seven-wicket victory in the second Test in Cape Town. Coming off an innings and 32-run mauling in the series-opener in Centurion, India fought back strongly to emerge victorious here inside five sessions and share the spoils in the two-match rubber. "When you come to this part of the world, it's always difficult but we take pride in our performance outside of India. South Africa always challenge us and for us to come out here and win, we can take pride in this performance," Rohit said at the post-match presentation.

Gone In 107 Overs: India vs South Africa Cape Town Test Is Now The Shortest Ever In History

The buildup to the India vs South Africa second Test in Cape Town was all about the capitulation of the visitors in the first Test. After a loss by an innings and 32 runs in Centurion, the odds were stacked against the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team. However, it did not take long for the Indian cricket team to dish out a cold revenge - only 107 overs to be precise. In less than five sessions, India won the match by seven wickets and drew the two-match series 1-1, their first in South Africa in 13 years.

South Africa defend weakened test squad for New Zealand series

Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said after it was criticised for selecting a second-string squad featuring seven debutants for the country's two fixtures in New Zealand next month.

India vs South Africa 2nd Test: Match Preview, Pitch Report, Weather Report, Predicted XIs

Rohit Sharma, the leader, will need to channelise the champion tactician that resides in him as India look to restore parity against South Africa and remain consequential in the World Championship points table when the second Test starts here on Wednesday. India are sixth in the nine-team table with 14 points (38.89 PCT) and a defeat will dent their standing further. Ravindra Jadeja, India's "Most Valuable Player" across formats, will come back to add the requisite middle-order batting balance and steady overs with the old Kookaburra but it will be the skipper's choice of third and fourth speed merchants that will define the embattled team's response.