The current World Test Championship (WTC) champions, South Africa, are currently in India for the two-Test match series against the Shubman Gill-led side, which is scheduled to start from November 14. The opener clash will take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Temba Bavuma-led side will be confident ahead of facing India as they are coming after a series-saving win over Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
South Africa trained with a clear intent to attack spin in 1st Test
The Temba Bavuma-led side started their net sessions in India to get familiar with the conditions where they have trained with a clear intent to attack spin and unsettle the rhythm of the bowlers, ahead of the opening Test against India
The WTC winners started their new WTC cycle by drawing the two-match series 1-1 against Pakistan, pulling off an incredible eight-wicket win in the second Test.
Tottering at 235 for eight in reply to Pakistan's 333, South Africa's lower order, led by Kagiso Rabada's career-best 71 and Keshav Maharaj's 30, helped secure a crucial lead before Simon Harmer (6/50) and Maharaj (2/34) spun Pakistan out for 138.
With a fit-again skipper, Temba Bavuma, returning to lead the side for the first time since guiding them to their maiden World Test Championship title in June, South Africa looked charged up in their first session attended by their full squad.
India vs South Africa Tests head-to-head
India and South Africa have played 17 Test series against each other since the Proteas’ readmission in 1992, where the home team often came out as winners. South Africa holds the edge with eight series wins and India won five, while four ended as a draw. South Africa was whitewashed 0-3 on its previous tour of India in 2019.
Squads
India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.