This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
India is set to break the record of 10 consecutive home series wins if they emerge victorious in the three-match Test series against South Africa.
One of the key players India will be relying on is Rohit Sharma, who has been given a chance to open the batting in the Test format after a successful stint in limited-overs cricket.
Sharma, who has not been a regular in the Test team since 2013, has been given a new lease of life after replacing the out-of-form Lokesh Rahul.
"He has worked so hard and if he gets an opportunity, I am sure he will do well," said vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane about Sharma.
However, Sharma's experiment has had a disastrous start, as he was dismissed for a duck on the second ball he faced in a practice game against the South Africans.
Natural Runs ¶
India batting great V.V.S. Laxman has advised Sharma to stick to his natural flair while opening in the longer format.
"If you tweak your natural game too much, then you will not get the results as your mind gets cluttered and you tend to lose your rhythm," said Laxman.
India will be without premier paceman Jasprit Bumrah due to a stress fracture of the back, but the hosts are still favourites against an inexperienced South African team led by Faf du Plessis.
This will be South Africa's first series since the retirement of Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn last month.
Former captain Amla was the Proteas' second-highest Test scorer with 9,282 runs, while Steyn was the nation's leading Test bowler with 439 Test scalps.
India won a four-match series 3-0 with one draw when South Africa last toured in 2015.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
