A quarter of a century back, when South Africa arrived in India for a two-Test series with an ICC trophy in their possession, they completed a 2-0 sweep. Temba Bavuma will be hoping history repeats itself and that he can emulate Hansie Cronje by becoming only the second Protean skipper to oversee a series triumph on Indian soil.
SA look to repeat history
In early 2000, Cronje’s men scored convincing victories in Mumbai and Bengaluru in Sachin Tendulkar’s last games as India’s captain. That came on the back of their stirring, unchecked run in the inaugural ICC KnockOut Trophy (as the Champions Trophy was then called) in Bangladesh in 1998. Bavuma’s side are the Test world champions following their sublime decimation of Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s five months ago, and believe they have the resources to end a 25-year wait for ultimate success in India.
Skipper Shubman Gill (left) with head coach Gautam Gambhir during India’s practice session at Eden Gardens on Thursday. Pic/AFP
The WTC victory has done wonders for South Africa’s belief and morale, evidenced by their 1-1 draw in Pakistan last month. Bavuma missed that stalemate with a calf strain but is now back in business, fit, firing and fascinated by the prospect of tilting at India’s windmills in the first of two matches starting at Eden Gardens on Friday.
Unlike in the past when they were forced to rely on their traditional bowling strength, pace, to try and unsettle the hosts, South Africa have a more rounded look to their attack through the presence of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and offie Simon Harmer, who enjoyed themselves in Pakistan. It is this new dynamic to supplement exceptional pacer Kagiso Rabada, coupled with an exciting batting line-up with Bavuma and the classy Aiden Markram at the forefront, that has instilled in the visitors the confidence that they can do battle with India on an equal footing.
India focus on consistency
India are fresh off a 2-0 rout of West Indies, though since then, many of the players in the Test squad have been engaged in white-ball skirmishes in Australia. Switching time zones and formats has been a habit for India’s much-in-demand players; that being said, Shubman Gill will be well aware that South
Africa will be no pushovers, and that India must be at their absolute best if their quest for WTC points is to come to a fruition.
Rishabh Pant’s availability is therefore a shot in the arm because Gill’s deputy is a game-breaker even in the stately five-day game. Given how superbly Dhruv Jurel acquitted himself as the understudy in Pant’s absence, India have been compelled to leave out Nitish Kumar Reddy from the XI that defeated West Indies in Delhi, though they will debate long and hard before deciding whether Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner, remains in the mix.
The Eden has the reputation of helping the faster bowlers up top and at some stage in the final session, but that is unlikely to trigger the inclusion of a third quick in the Indian XI. Reverse and spin should have a say as the match progresses; like South Africa, India too boast personnel that can exploit both those facets, promising a compelling battle of equals.
2010
The year South Africa last won a Test match in India