India’s head coach Rahul Dravid seemed relaxed as he addressed the media on Sunday, December 24, 2023. India has been mostly successful in the last decade regarding overseas tours but South Africa has still been a place yet to be conquered. Under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, India won the first-ever test match on South African soil in 2006. The last two tours have been India’s best chances to win the series in South Africa but somehow, India lost the series 1-2 both times.
The upcoming Boxing Day match is going to be played at SuperSport Park, Centurion where India has had a 33% win record out of 3 matches played between South Africa and India at the venue over the years. South Africa won 2 matches and India managed to win 1 match at the venue in their last tour to South Africa.
How has been the Pitch at SuperSport Park, Centurion?
The pitch of SuperSport Park located in Centurion is fast and bouncy. It is one of the fastest pitches in South Africa. The wicket here especially helps fast bowlers. Batsmen can also be successful in playing big innings here. With regular bounce on the wicket, batsmen can play their shots according to the merit of the ball. Spinners have never been very successful in Centurion.
Stats at SuperSport Park, Centurion
- ‘Centurions in Centurion between South Africa & India‘
South Africa Vs India, 2010-11: Batting second in the first-ever test match played at SuperSport Park, Centurion after India was bundled out at 136 in the first innings, South African batsmen Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, and AB de Villiers scored 140, 201*, and 129 respectively to put up a mammoth total of 620-4d. But India came back stronger in the second innings and Sachin Tendulkar scored a well-fought 111* but India eventually lost the match by an innings and 25 runs
South Africa Vs India, 2017-18: Virat Kohli scored 153 runs in the first innings of this test match but India fell short by 28 runs and was bundled out at 307 in reply to South Africa’s 335. No South African batsman could score a century in this test match. India eventually lost the match by 135 runs.
South Africa Vs India, 2021-22: KL Rahul was the only centurion in this test match with his inning of 123 runs. India won the match by 113 runs.
2. ‘Highest Wicket-takers in Centurion between South Africa & India’
South Africa Vs India, 2010-11: Dales Steyn and Morne Morkel picked up 7 wickets each in the match
South Africa Vs India, 2017-18: Lungi Ngidi picked up 7 wickets in the match including 6 wickets haul in the second innings.
South Africa Vs India, 2021-22: Lungi Ngidi and Mohammed Shami picked up 8 wickets each in the match for their respective sides.
Key Players in the upcoming Boxing Day match!
Bowlers: Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Mukesh Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin
Batsman: Keegan Petersen, Dean Elgar, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tony De Zorzi
