South Africa v India 1st test betting preview & tips | Dec 26-30

South Africa v India 1st Test preview

The final frontier for India has undeniably been South Africa since the country’s readmission to international cricket. Over eight Test tours, the closest India came to victory was in 2010-11, concluding in a 1-1 series draw.

Two years ago, optimism surrounded India’s “best opportunity” to win a Test series in South Africa. Despite winning the first match, they lost the next two, missing a significant chance.

This time, a brief two-test series in Centurion and Cape Town awaits, where the victor of the first match secures an unassailable lead. With the recent ODI World Cup disappointment and eyes set on the T20 World Cup, can India carve out a historic moment?

Yet, as history tells us, achieving this feat is easier said than done. South Africa, under Temba Bavuma, is determined to maintain its unbeaten home record against India. Additionally, they aim to bid farewell to former captain Dean Elgar, retiring after this series, on a triumphant note.

The challenge for South Africa lies in quickly adapting to Test cricket; their last red-ball match was in March, marking their entry into the current World Test Championship cycle. In contrast, India commenced theirs in the West Indies, winning the first Test and drawing the second due to rain.

Complicating matters, Centurion faces a looming rain threat, particularly in the first two days of the Test, adding another layer of uncertainty to this high-stakes encounter.

South Africa v India 1st Test top tips & odds

South Africa v India betting tips

Since succumbing to Australia in the World Test Championship last year, India has not played a Test match. During this hiatus, there has been a notable shift in the squad, as key figures like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were omitted from the touring party bound for South Africa. However, the ‘spine’ of the Indian squad remains intact, with the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah all set to shine in South Africa. Despite the lack of red-ball cricket, India seemingly matchup perfectly against the hosts and look hard to beat, despite the forecast rain.

In the early months of 2023, Aiden Markram returned to the top of the order, delivering scores of 115, 47, 96, and 18 in two Tests against the West Indies. Eager to capitalise on this momentum, he aims to solidify his position as South Africa’s premier batsman across all three formats. He presents great value as South Africa’s top runscorer in the first dig.

KL Rahul holds an average of 25.60 in ten innings in South Africa, but it’s worth noting that in nine of those innings, he opened the batting. A shift to the middle order may provide some comfort. Additionally, he carries the positive memory of scoring a century in Centurion during India’s visit two years ago. Opening the batting tends to be difficult in South Africa, so look for KL Rahul to make the most of a slightly older ball and top India’s run scoring chart in the first innings.

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