Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has said that he is expecting to see the best of a fired-up Virat Kohli in India's upcoming tour of South Africa. India will play three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches against South Africa in a month-long tour.
India skipper Rohit Sharma and Kohli have been rested from the white-ball leg of the series, which is set to begin from December 10. India will take on South Africa in a three-match T20I series first, with KL Rahul set to lead the team in Hardik Pandya's absence due to injury.
The first T20I will be played in Durban, with subsequent matches in Gqeberha on December 12 and Johannesburg on December 14. Following the T20I series, Rahul will lead India's charge in the ODI series as well, and will kick-start on December 17 with the first match in Johannesburg. Following that, the teams will play matches in Gqeberha on December 19 and Paarl on December 21.
The tour will finish with the Freedom Series for the Gandhi-Mandela Trophy, a much-anticipated Test series. Kohli and Rohit will return to the side as India will take on South Africa in the first Test in Centurion from December 26 to December 30, followed by the second Test in Cape Town from January 3 to January 7.
Speaking ahead of the series, as quoted by PTI, De Villiers said he expects to see the best of Kohli, adding that he will be fired up for this series. India has never defeated South Africa in an away Test series.
"We will see the best of Virat. I cannot wait to see the chest out, the eye contact with the opposition, and being a bit verbal with everyone. Because he will be fired up for this series. South Africa will need to be careful. This Indian squad is pure world-class," said De Villiers.
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