India vs. South Africa: Will Rohit Sharma & Co. be able to conquer Proteas territory and create history?

A two-match Test series between India and South Africa is scheduled to begin on Boxing Day at SuperSport Park in Centurion. India has never won a red-ball series in South Africa before, but under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, the top-ranked Test team in the world hopes to change that.

Ishan Kishan withdrew from the series citing mental fatigue, and Mohammed Shami and Ruturaj Gaikwad were recently ruled out of both matches despite the team declaring a full-strength roster. KL Bharat was announced as a backup wicketkeeper for KL Rahul, and Abhimanyu Easwaran replaced Gaikwad in Team India's squad.

Since 1992, India has played 23 Tests in South Africa and won only four. They’ve lost 12 with seven draws, and what will hurt is their last visit. Team India won the first Test match during their last visit to South Africa, but ended up losing the next two games and losing the series.

South Africa has always dominated every opponent in Tests at home, but the Indian team has the best chance to create history after dominant performances across formats in 2023. Both teams have faced each other 42 times in Tests, out of which South Africa won 17 and Team India won 15, whereas 10 games ended in a draw.

Virat Kohli to be a key factor?

When it comes to participating in Test matches in South Africa, Kohli has an incredible record. The Indian star batsman has scored 719 runs at an average of 51.36 in 14 innings. Kohli has amassed two hundred and three fifties in this period. So, fans would be hoping that King Kohli continues his fine form and delivers another triple-figure score in this series.

Rohit Sharma hopes Virat Kohli will continue his fine form in this series, but he will also look forward to contributing with a bat from his position and giving Team India a good start at the top of the order. Also, the return of Jasprit Bumrah will be a major boost for India's bowling lineup.

By all means, this seems to be India's best squad travelling to South Africa in recent years for a Test series, but the question remains the same: whether this team will perform as everyone would expect or will they again succumb under overseas pressure? Well, we will have to wait and watch.

The series begins on December 26 at SuperSport Park, Centurion, at 1:30 PM IST.

Squad for the IND vs. SA Test Series

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk), Abhimanyu Easwaran.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk).