India vs South Africa: India and South Africa are locking horns against each other in the first test match, which is being held at the Super-Sport Park in Centurion. South Africa won the toss and asked the Indian team to bat first. Prasidh Krishna makes his test debut in the first test against the Proteas. The seamer was really good in the 4-day match against South Africa-A, finishing with figures of 5-43.
The visitors have chosen Ravi Ashwin as the lone spinner for the first game, and at the toss, Captain Rohit Sharma revealed why Ravindra Jadeja is not playing in this match. “Ashwin is playing instead of Jadeja. He had a back-neck spasm in the morning, so Jaddu was not available for selection. Prasidh is making his test debut today. Bumrah, Shardul, and Siraj are the 3 seamers alongside Prasidh”.
Proteas Skipper Temba Bavuma, who is making his comeback to the team after the loss in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup against Australia, won the toss and chose to field in order to take advantage of the overcast conditions and the moisture that is in the wicket. Seamer Nandre Burger and batsman David Bedingham are making their test debuts against India in the first test match.
South Africa is the only country where The Men in Blue have failed to win a single test series, and it is a big opportunity for Rohit Sharma and his men to rewrite history by becoming the first Indian side to win a test series against the Proteas on South African soil.
India have won 1 game and drawn 1 against the Windies so far in the current 2023–25 WTC cycle, and the Men in Blue are currently at the top of the WTC table with a points percentage of 66.67%. A win against the Proteas will help India solidify their number one position in the points table.
Playing 11 of both teams for the 1st Test Match
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (C), Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Tony De Zorzi, Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Nandre Burger and Kagiso Rabada.
Read: AUS vs PAK Day 2 Weather Forecast and Pitch Report of Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
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