SA vs IND 1st Test Match Preview, Team News, Possible XI, Pitch Report, and Dream XI Team Prediction

India will play against South Africa in the first Test of the 2-match series at Centurion after winning the ODI series by 2-1. Rohit Sharma will be leading the Indian Test side in the SA vs IND Test series while Temba Bavuma will be leading the Proteas team. Dean Elgar, Lungi Ngidi, and Kagiso Rabada are among the key players from the home side while Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja will be some important players alongside the skipper himself for the visitors.

Also Read: 5 Indian Batsmen with the Most Test Runs against South Africa

SA vs IND: 1st Test Match Preview

Match Details:

• Date: 26th December, 2023 (Tuesday)

SA vs IND: 1st Test: Head-to-Head

• Matches played: 42

South Africa vs India: Head-to-Head in Tests in South African soil

Of the 23 Tests India have played in South Africa, they have only won four. India have never won a Test series in South Africa. In their eight visits since 1992, South Africa has emerged victorious seven times, with one series drawn in 2010/11.

Also Read: SA vs IND: India's Test Record in South Africa

SA vs IND: Pitch & Weather Report

Centurion has been South Africa's fortress, with 22 wins in 28 Tests but India managed to beat them by 113 runs on their last tour. The SuperSport Park is a batting-friendly track with some help for swing bowlers. The spinners don't have much advantage on this track. Batting will be easier in the early half than in the second half. The average score by the team batting first in the last 10 matches at this stadium is 377. Batting first should be the preferred option at this stadium.

The weather at the SuperSport Park is expected to be around 28 Degree Celsius alongside 40% humidity. There is a forecast of rain on the first two days of the Test.

Team News

South Africa Team News

This is South Africa's first series in the current World Test Championship cycle. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi have recovered from their respective injuries and could feature in the playing XI. Conrad said on Saturday, "We have not called anybody in as a replacement, and hopefully, by the morning of the match, we have 15 fit players to select from."

Aiden Markram is finally becoming the batter he was destined to be. He is in brilliant form right now and would like to continue against India as well. Dean Elgar is set to play the final two Test games of his career. The former South African skipper announced his retirement from the format following the forthcoming series.

Indian Team News

Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the Test series with an ankle injury he sustained during the World Cup. India might allow Mukesh Kumar or Prasidh Krishna as the first-change seamer.

All-rounder Shardul Thakur could play as the second all-rounder but it will be interesting to see whether Ravindra Jadeja or Ravichandran Ashwin start in the XI for the Boxing Day Test.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is highly expected to open with Rohit, with Shubman Gill batting at three. Virat Kohli will bat in his favorite test cricket position (number four), while Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will come down the order.

SA vs IND: Possible XI

Squads: India: Rohit Sharma (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shardul Thakur, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Nandre Burger, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, and Kagiso Rabada.

India's Expected Playing XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Shreyas Iyer, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Mohammed Siraj

South Africa's Expected Playing XI: 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Tony de Zorzi, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 Keegan Petersen, 6 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Gerald Coetzee, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi

Captains' statement ahead of the First Test

"It's very important two Test matches in terms of where we stand as a team. We have never won a series here so that's a big opportunity in itself for us to do well here in trying to achieve what nobody has ever achieved in this part of the world." Rohit Sharma said ahead of the first test.

"Playing against India comes with a lot more eyes and a lot more scrutiny in terms of everything we do. So it is accepting that. They are a determined team as well, who want to be able to say they have won a Test series here in South Africa. So with that extra bit of drive and motivation, we really need to be at our best." Temba Bavuma said ahead of the first test.

SA vs IND: 1st Test Dream XI Team Prediction