SOUTH AFRICA vs INDIA, TEST SERIES 2023-24: PRESENTING 8 MAJOR PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

The 35-year-old Virat Kohli will be raring to have a crack against the Proteas. In 14 Test matches, Kohli owns 1236 runs against SA, averaging a healthy average of 56.18. Meanwhile, across 7 Test matches on South African soil, he owns 719 runs...

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South Africa and India gear up for a two-match Test series, starting on Boxing Day. The first Test will be held at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The second Test match will start on January 3 at the Newlands in Cape Town. Notably, India have lost each of their last three Test series in South Africa. They lost 2-1 each in 2021-22 and 2017-18 respectively. Before that, the tourists also suffered a 1-0 defeat in 2013-14. Overall, the two teams have met on 42 occasions in Test cricket. India have claimed 15 wins to SA’s 17. 10 matches have been drawn. This series will be of utmost significance before India host England at home in January end. India, who have been a twotime finalist in the ICC World Test Championship, are atop the 2023-25 standings as of now. They will want to seek a positive result on this tour and signify their recent growth as a touring party. Once again, both teams have some quality names in the mix. And the big guns will hope to battle it out and showcase their mettle. 

Ahead of a gruelling two-match series, we look at eight players who can have utmost significance.

VIRAT KOHLI

The 35-year-old Virat Kohli will be raring to have a crack against the Proteas. In 14 Test matches, Kohli owns 1236 runs against SA, averaging a healthy average of 56.18. Meanwhile, across 7 Test matches on South African soil, he owns 719 runs at 51.35. Out of his three tons and four fifties versus SA, two centuries have come in South Africa. Kohli is aiming to become the second-highest scorer for India versus SA in Tests. As per ESPNcricinfo, Kohli, who owns a total of 8676 runs in Tests, is closing in on 4500 runs in away matches (home of opposition). He owns 29 tons and 29 fifties in total.