When it comes to red-ball cricket, a series victory in South Africa remains India's final frontier. Here is all you need to know about the IND vs RSA Test matches - schedule, head-to-head record, squad and live streaming details
India's heartbreaking loss in the final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 may have saddened expectant fans, but didn't leave much time for rumination as the cricketing action continued unabated. A young Men In Blue outfit led by Suryakumar Yadav is currently facing Australia in a five-match T20I series at home. Soon after, the caravan will roll on to South Africa for a full-fledged tour, involving duels in all three formats. (Cricket News)
India's tour of South Africa 2023-24 will feature three T20Is, three ODIs and two Test matches. The T20Is and ODIs will be played between December 10 and 21, before the attention shifts to Test cricket. The first Test will commence on 26 December in Centurion’s SuperSport Park, and the second five-day game will start on 3 January, in Cape Town’s Newlands Cricket Ground.
When it comes to red-ball cricket, South Africa remains India's final frontier. It is the only elite cricket-playing country in whose soil India are yet to win a Test series. The visitors came close under MS Dhoni's leadership in 2010-11, but could not cross the finish line as the third and deciding Test ended in a draw. The world number 1 Test side will be looking to make amends this time around, and create history.
With Rahul Dravid confirmed to continue as India head coach, this will be his first Test series assignment upon contract renewal. All eyes will be on him and captain Rohit Sharma, with regards to their strategy for the challenging tourney. Senior pros Rohit and Virat Kohli have asked to be rested for the IND vs RSA T20I and ODI series, but both of them will be back in action for the two Test matches.
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Here is India's full squad for the two Test matches versus the Proteas:
India squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna.
Head-To-Head Records
India have played South Africa in 42 Test matches so far, and won 15 of them. The Proteas have emerged victors 17 times, while 10 matches ended in a draw. Of the last five encounters, India have won three, while South Africa have won two - the most recent games between the two sides.
Below are the schedule, venues and live-streaming details of the upcoming South Africa vs India Test series.
When and where will the India vs South Africa Test series be played?
The IND vs RSA Test series will be played from December 26 to January 7, 2023 in South Africa. Here is the full itinerary (all timings in IST):
1st Test: From Tuesday, December 26 in SuperSport Park, Centurion at 1:30pm.
2nd Test: From Wednesday, January 3 in Newlands, Cape Town at 1:30pm.
On which TV channels will the Test matches be telecast live?
The Test series will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network in India.
Where will the matches be live streamed?
The matches will be live streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and website.