The first Test of the three-Test series between India and South Africa is just a few days away. The Boxing Day Test will be a crucial one for India especially after the controversy back home related to Virat Kohli’s sacking as ODI captain and war of words with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, when the focus shifts back on the field, there are some feats waiting to be achieved for India’s veteran Test campaigners Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Kohli set to surpass Dravid
While India failed to break the jinx in South Africa last time, Kohli was in terrific form with the bat. The Indian Test skipper has 558 runs from five Tests on South African soil at a highly impressive average of 57.98. He has two centuries and two half-centuries against the Proteas in their home. Also, he needs 67 more runs to surpass head coach Rahul Dravid’s tally of runs on South African pitches. Dravid has scored 624 runs from 11 Tests at an average of 29.71 including one century and two half-centuries. The list is headed by legendary Sachin Tendulkar with 1,161 runs from 15 Tests including five centuries and three half-centuries.
Overall, Kohli has 1,075 runs from 12 Tests against South Africa whether it is in home or away conditions. On the other hand, Dravid has 1,252 runs from 21 Tests. This list is also headed by Tendulkar with 1,741 runs from 25 Tests. Kohli also has the second-best batting average (57.92) in India-South Africa Tests. Only former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis has a better average of 69.36.
Ashwin’s chance to surpass five bowlers
Ashwin will have a chance to surpass many Indian and South African bowlers in the list of most wickets in the format among the two teams even though he has just seven wickets from three Tests on South African pitches. The veteran off-spinner has taken 53 wickets from 10 Tests against South Africa and will have a chance to surpass Allan Donald (57 wickets), Morne Morkel (58 wickets), Harbhajan Singh (60 wickets), Javagal Srinath (64 wickets) and Dale Steyn (65 wickets). The 35-year-old needs 13 more wickets in three Test to surpass five bowlers.
At the top of the list is Anil Kumble who has 84 wickets from 21 Tests. On pace-friendly Proteas wickets, it is highly unlikely that Ashwin will get close to the former Indian skipper’s tally of wickets. Considering his bowling average of 46.14 on South African pitches, getting those 13 wickets is not going to be an easy task either.
