Pepped up India will take on Proteas in the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Monday (January 3). India will look to seal the series with a victory after sending South Africa packing by 113 runs in the first Test at Centurion.
If India can manage to clinch the Johannesburg Test, it would be their first series win in the Rainbow Nation. With this, they will also become the first Asian Nation to win the Test series in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and England.
At the Wanderers stadium, which can be called India's fortress in South Africa, Proteas and India have played five Test matches against each other. The Indian team has never lost a game at this stadium. India have won two and drawn three at this venue.
Indian won their first-ever Test match on South African soil at the same venue in 2006. The clash between the two sides in 2018 at Wanderers was a close fought one which also Virat Kohli’s side ended up winning.
All eyes on Kohli
Kohli is currently the second-highest run-scorer (310 runs) among opposition batters in Test matches in Johannesburg. Only New Zealand's John Reid is ahead of Kohli in the list, who has scored 316 runs in two Tests.
Kohli enjoys an impressive record in Johannesburg, having scored one century and two half-centuries in two Test matches at the venue.
Pujara's chance to redeem
Another senior member of the Indian team, Cheteshwar Pujara also has an average of 57.25 at the Wanderers. Pujara has scored a century and a half-century at the ground.
On the other hand, South Africa’s overall stats at the venue are not very spectacular for a home team. The Proteas have played 42 Tests at this venue, winning 18, losing 13, and drawing 11. So that means, visiting teams have avoided a loss in more than half of the matches played at this stadium.
India head coach Rahul Dravid had played 2 Tests at the Wanderers, making 262 with at 65.50 with a hundred and a fifty.
Most Test runs in Johannesburg (by the opposition)
John Reid (NZ) - 316
Virat Kohli (IND) - 310
Ricky Ponting (AUS) - 263
Rahul Dravid (IND) - 262
Damien Martyn (AUS) - 255
Let's also have a look at some Test records at the Wanderers Stadium
Test record at the Wanderers Stadium
Total games played: 37
Games won by the team batting first: 17
Games won by team fielding first: 10
Average 1st Innings scores: 313
Average 2nd Innings scores: 280
Average 3rd Innings scores: 252
Average 4th Innings scores: 206
Highest total recorded at the venue: 652/7 (146 Ov) by Australia vs South Africa
Lowest total recorded at the venue: 49/10 (29.1 Ov) by Pakistan vs South Africa
