South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the all-important toss and elected to field against India in the first Test match at Centurion on December 26. Prasidh Krishna was handed his maiden Test cap while Ravindra Jadeja complained of back spasms and Ravichandran Ashwin was selected in the playing XI as the lone specialist spinner.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
South Africa Playing XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma(c), Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger
The highly anticipated two-match Test series, commencing on Boxing Day, marks a pivotal moment for India as they embark on their ninth tour to South Africa since 1992. Captain Rohit Sharma is at the helm of this significant venture, facing the daunting challenge of conquering what is often termed India's 'final frontier' in cricket.
The series opener at the Centurion pitch sets the scene for a gripping cricketing showdown. Known for its unpredictable bounce and status as one of the fastest pitches in South Africa, the Centurion offers a unique challenge. The cooler and windy weather conditions, coupled with the open ground, are expected to contribute to the ball's erratic movement, making for an intriguing battle between the bat and the ball.
Rohit Sharma, leading the team in this crucial series, has previously sought to emulate the legendary accomplishments of Indian captains like Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. A series win in South Africa would significantly enhance Rohit's stature among the elite captains of Indian cricket.
India's history in South Africa is filled with near-misses, with captains such as Mohammed Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli achieving Test match victories but falling short of securing a series win. Thus, Rohit's leadership in this series is under intense scrutiny, as a victory in South Africa would not only be a remarkable achievement in its own right but also serve as a salve to the lingering disappointment from the World Cup loss.
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