India vs South Africa test series preview : Stern test for Gill and co as South Africa look to do a New Zeland of 2024.

One of the most intriguing facts about Temba Bavuma is that he hasn't lost a test series in his captaincy career. That record might be at  risk as his side land on Indian shores for a full fledged tour starting Friday. 

South Africa will have ghosts of the past to deal with as they have never won a series in India since 199&. The last time they were here, they were whitewashed 3-0 with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli making merry with the bat and they have New Zealand to ask who achieved the historic feat last year that resulted in a whole revamp. 

South Africa do have the firepower to challenge India in their own den with the likes of Markram, Bavuma, a new look Toni De Zorzi and Corbin Bosch. Tristan Stubbs and Deval Brewis have enough experience playing the IPL all year round and they will make sure that they put it to good effect. 

The bowling too has experience as Kagiso Rabada leads the pack. It’s alarming that this is just his second test series in India, but he will be raring to go as these pitches will also be a new challenge for him. He is recently coming off a terrific knock against Pakistan.

The spin department is also sorted with Simon Harmet, Keshav Maharaj and Sean Mutthuswamy wrecked havoc against Pakistan recently and would want to go one up against a much more stiff batting line up.

For the hosts though, they will tinker with the batting combination. With Dhruv Jurel chipping in with valuable innings and the addition of Rishabh Pant, one of the all rounders, mostly Washington Sundar will have to miss out and this means that the batting only gets stronger. 

The rest of the team will be the same as the West Indies series with Bumrah, Siraj, Kuldeep and Jadeja will be the main ones to hunt down the South Africans. Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan and Shubman Gill will hold the key once again as the hosts look to gain crucial points ahead of the WTC final in 2027.