India’s Test squad in South Africa: Does it have the firepower to humble the hosts?

Ravichandran Ashwin:

The off-spinner who recently entered the 300 club in Tests, has an impressive record against South Africa (31 wickets in 5 matches with an average of 14.61, strike rate of 40 and four five-wicket hauls).

However, in South Africa, he is yet to pick up a wicket as he finished without a reward in the only game he has played there so far. Ashwin will be interesting to watch for while no one else has done better than him in Tests since 2016, he has a whole lot to prove on foreign soil even after completing six years of his cricketing career.

But if India have to succeed in SA, Ashwin has to succeed as well. Eyes will also be on his batting skills that have impressed quite a few times in the past.

Cheteshwar Pujara:

Often cited as the successor of Rahul Dravid, Pujara will be perhaps India’s most crucial batsman in the upcoming Test series. The 29-year-old had a great 2017 and he would be keen to maintain the momentum in 2018 as well.

The right-handed batsman is often eclipsed by the more glamorous Kohlis and Sharmas but that doesn’t write his significance off. Pujara averages 39.46 against SA in Tests but it goes up a few more notches when it comes to his away average against the Proteas (44.42).

Pujara’s highest score against SA is 153 which he scored in Johannesburg in 2013 and he will have to belt more such knocks if India are to dominate the hosts this time.

Wriddhiman Saha:

Wriddhiman Saha has been the mainstay of the lower middle-order of Team India since the exit of Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the Test arena and the man has proved his worth by scoring three centuries, the most after the great MSD.

Saha has played 5 Tests against SA so far – all being at home – and he has scored 119 runs at an average of 17. His gritty 36 in 101 balls against the Proteas’ pace battery in Nagpur in 2010 is something he can take inspiration from. We look forward to a memorable Test debut by Saha on the South African soil.

Umesh Yadav:

Umesh Yadav, 30, is one of the most consistent performers for India and will be a man captain Kohli will be relying on to make early inroads into the South African batting line-up. Yadav currently has 99 Test wickets and he will be the 21st Indian bowler to join the 100 club.

Yadav has taken 99 wickets in 36 matches at an average of 35.90. He has taken 5 wickets in 2 games against South Africa so far at an average of 12. Yadav will also be playing his first Test in South Africa during the upcoming tour and will be more than eager to leave a mark behind.