South Africa v India, Test series: South Africa's Predicted Squad

Whilst the focus has remained on how the Indians will cope with South Africa, the latter will also have to work hard for to reap a good result. Both these countries love their cricket and over the years, they have provided some amazing moments. It’s a marquee clash of two of the biggest and the most loved cricketing units across the globe and certainly, all eyes will be on them when the series begins.

South Africa has had mixed results this year overall. They fought hard when they travelled to England but eventually lost the series by a painful margin. But they evened things with a scintillating performance against Bangladesh, outplaying the Tigers in every department of the game. The Proteas managed to steamroll their opponents across all formats without any fuss.

The Indian side has been in terrific form as well and the last time they lost a series was a long time back in 2014/15 when the Aussies defeated them 2-0 in their backyard. Since then, no team managed to defeat them in a Test series. That record will be in grave danger as they will travel to a location where they’ve struggled historically, but India’s current form is a major hope for their fans.

Steyn, De Villiers, and Philander set to come back

The Proteas will launch a strong unit for this series as India will be visiting them for the first time in four years. Faf du Plessis will be leading the Test contingent for the first time in the presence of AB de Villiers. Both the stalwarts and childhood friends share a great relationship and on India’s previous tour to South Africa, they almost completed a fairytale run chase after India set a 458-run target.

Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar, and Aidem Makram will be the top three batters for the hosts. Makram impressed one and all as an opener in his first assignment against the Tigers, but against India, it will be a different ball game. Dean Elgar has been their best batsman this calendar year and Amla is always a threat, no matter how good or bad his form is.

Youngsters like Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock have chipped in with crucial knocks whenever the side needed them. Being middle-order batsmen, they don’t get enough chances to prove their worth but rating them off the few opportunities they got n recent times, they’ve been fantastic. The one and only spinner for the Proteas will be Keshav Maharaj, who might not have a significant role to play.

Their fast bowling department looks malicious and devastating on paper. Kagiso Rabada Chris Morris, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, and Andile Phehlukwayo, all can bowl at over 145 clicks regularly and the Indians will find it difficult to face their music. Philander too will be making a comeback after missing out on the Bangladesh series, which should be a huge boost for their confidence.

Here’s the predicted South African squad that will lock horns with the mighty Indians

Probable Squad: Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar, Aidem Makram, Faf du Plessis (C), Temba Bavuma, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (WK), Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Keshav Maharaj, Vernon Philander, Theunis de Bruyn, Chris Morris