The highly anticipated test series between South Africa and India is all set to begin on Boxing Day. The first test between the two sides will take place at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on December 26. The Indian team played one intra-day practice match that had all the players doing well.
Team India has not won a test series on South African soil in 31 years. They came pretty close last time, when they won the first game of the three-match series. But eventually, they lost the next two and also lost the series as well.
But this will be a great chance for the Indian team to end their drought. However, India will miss the services of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who was at his absolute best in the World Cup 2023 at home. Former South African star Fanie de Villiers reckons that India has a great chance to win a test series in the rainbow nation.
In an interview with PTI, De Villiers said that the current crop of Indian bowlers have the ability to turn things around. He named Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to be the players who can win the series for the team.
De Villiers said, “India have been coming for many years, but very few of your fast bowlers were line bowlers. But now you have Bumrah and Siraj. Yes, I agree that Shami not playing makes a massive difference.”
The upcoming test series is part of the ongoing World Test Championship 2023–25. South Africa will play their first test series while India comes off a 1-0 win against the West Indies. The win in this series will help the team maintain good form on the table. Team India ended the last two editions of the WTC as runner-up, and they will look to turn it around this time around.
