In Stats: Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane hold the key for India

Team India would be looking forward to creating history by winning a Test series and sustaining its ranking in Test cricket

By: Karan Nanda |
January 3, 2018 1:06 pm

The real test for Virat Kohli-led Team India begins on January 5 when they take on South Africa in the first Test of the three-match series in Cape Town. Team India is currently the No 1 Test team in ICC rankings and South Africa is at No 2. Team India would be looking forward to creating history by winning a Test series and sustaining its ranking in Test cricket.

In 1992, Team India, under the captaincy of Mohammad Azharuddin first toured South Africa. Since then, the team has played six Test series but failed to win any of them.

So far, India has won only two Tests in South Africa out of 17, while losing eight games. This time Virat Kohli is confident that his team can pull off a special win.

Nice little rhythm the bowlers are getting into at the moment #TeamIndia #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/QNVz9v6cP3

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 2, 2018

In 2010-11, then captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni came close to creating history when the visitors managed to drew the series 1-1.

During their last tour in 2013-14, Team India lost the series 1-0.

COUNTRY	TESTS	INDIA	SOUTH AFRICA	DRAWN
In South Africa	17	2	8	7
In India	16	8	5	3
Overall	33	10	13	10

In this tour, all eyes would be on the Indian batting line up led by Virat Kohli. In 2017, Indian batsmen played a crucial role in Team India’s 9 consecutive Test victories.

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Ahead of their game, Virat Kohli was spotted practising cover drive with one hand, while middle-order mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara advised his fellow batsmen to “leave the ball well”.

Former Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the record for the most runs in India-South Africa Tests with 1,741 runs in 25 games and seven centuries, said ‘discipline’ will be the key for Indian batsmen.

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Top four batsmen for India hold the key if they are eyeing to set a big total on board. Among the top four one has to play big. Partnership and rotating strike will always frustrate the opposition after they start loosening up. With Kookaburra ball, starting 30-40 overs will be the tough phase for the batsmen.

A lot also depends on team’s combination which Virat and coach Ravi Shastri would decide ahead of the start of the first Test.

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Ajinkya Rahane might find a place over Rohit Sharma as he has prior experience of playing in South African condition. With Murali Vijay is in his prime form, he might open the innings with Shikhar Dhawan, who might find his place over KL Rahul despite missing two Test matches against Sri Lanka in December last year.

Let’s have a look at some of the stats of Indian batsmen in South Africa:

MOST RUNS

BATSMAN	RUNS	HIGHEST SCORE
Virat Kohli	272	119
Murali Vijay	176	97
C Pujara	311	153
Ajinkya Rahane	209	96

MOST 50s

BATSMAN	50
Virat Kohli	2
C Pujara	2
Ajinkya Rahane	2
Murali Vijay	1

Most Runs From Fours & Sixes In An Innings

BATSMAN	4+6
Murali Vijay	72
Ajinkya Rahane	56
Virat Kohli	72
C Pujara	84

While the first match between India and South Africa will be played at Cape Town, the second and third matches will be played in Centurion (January 13-17) and Durban (January 24-28), respectively.