India vs South Africa | Statistical Preview - Vizag Test

ByBodog India, SportsCafe Editor

10/01/2019

After both the teams shared the spoils in the T20Is, it is the time to get into the Tests as South Africa will aim to exact revenge for the 3-0 loss four years ago. Bodog, however, has not shown too much faith in the South African side going into the Test series as is obvious from their picks.

Form Guide

India - W-W-D-W-L-W-W-W-L-L

If one team that can claim to be masters at home, almost to the point of unbeatable, it has to be India - India have won all but three Test matches at home, a record that is as good as any. In the last 10 games, as shown in the form guide, India had suffered in their last 10 Test matches was to England (twice) and Australia at Perth - two of which could have gone on their way. The Draw came in the Sydney match against Australia, where if the rain hadn’t played spoilsport, India could have walked away as the convincing winners. Needless to say, Bodog has put their trust in the Indian side handing them odds that would be great even in T20 cricket.

South Africa - L-L-W-W-W-L-L-W-W-W

South Africa have lost four of their last 10 Tests, with the last two losses coming against unheralded Sri Lanka in their own den. After the shambolic performances in the World Cup, this is their chances of correcting the wrongs and put up a performance of grit and determination against an opposition that hasn’t been easy for them. Bodog has offered them a pretty decent chance of making it out with a draw though.

Head to Head

India : W - 11, L - 15, D - 10

South Africa: W - 15, L - 11, D - 10

Although there is not a lot to differentiate both the teams, with South Africa leading the head-to-head by four wins, considering the matches will be played in India, the hosts will enjoy a bigger success at home. India have won eight matches against South Africa, while losing five, with the last loss coming in 2008 in Nagpur. The way India dominated the visitors in the 2015 Freedom Trophy, there is little reason for the South African fans to be excited about.

Key Batsmen

Virat Kohli: The Indian skipper, cut from a different cloth while batting in Tests at home, has to be the key batsman for India, although Cheteshwar Pujara is equally, if not good, batsman in the Indian conditions. Last year, when Indian batsmen struggled to get going in South Africa, Kohli stood like a rock, and his 153 in Centurion was an innings a cricketer loves to play. Although his record against the Africans in India are not that great, with 88 being his highest score, Bodog has him as the key player and his rich reputation might have been the major factor behind that.

Aiden Markram: The Lions cricketer has shown the ability to bat under immense pressure when he scored a century against Australia last year. His technically correct approach was so soothing to the eye that Virat Kohli, not once, but twice tweeted about the young cricketer, praising his batting. Now, with much bigger responsibility are on his shoulder as Markram is touted as the man of the tour by many, and he rightfully lived upto the image by scoring a century in the warm-up game against the BCCI Board President’s XI. The only thing that goes against him is his inexperience in away conditions, as 15 of his 17 Test caps came at home where he averages 48.81.

Virat Kohli is Bodog's Man of the Match. Who is yours?

Key Bowlers

Ravichandran Ashwin: Although Ravichandran Ashwin is out of favour in the away conditions, his dominance at home in the past brings him straight into the picture for the South Africa series. With Jasprit Bumrah ruled out with a stress fracture, Ashwin, who averages 22.68 at home, is going to be Virat Kohli’s major weapon as India might decide against preparing a pace-friendly wicket. Against South Africa, Ashwin has a rich record by scalping 38 wickets at 17.57 from seven matches.

Keshav Maharaj: He is a world-class spinner no one is talking about. The spinner has 16 wickets in two matches in the sub-continent and even though the fact that he has played only two matches away from home, he is averaging in the 20s - an incredible feat that would keep the Indians from brimming with over-confidence. He will be a key bowler for South Africa in the series despite the presence of Dean Piedt, who finished as the A-series’ as the highest wicket-taker with nine scalps to his name.

Venue Statistics

Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium has only hosted one Test match in the past, with India toppling England by a huge margin of 246 runs in 2016. While Virat Kohli smashed the English bowlers to submission with an enterprising 167, Ravichandran Ashwin picked up eight wickets in the game to ensure India’s huge win. Considering the ground is a relatively new one to Test cricket, Bodog has also offered a welcome package for new users to their website.

Bodog Predictions

India have been virtually unplayable at home for a while now and the only team that has given India any trouble was Australia in 2017. So Bodog has not only made India the odds on favorite for the game but has preferred Indian players in all major categories. With Virat Kohli, and it’s not even close, leading the line for batsmen, Ravichandran Ashwin does the same as far as wielding the leather is concerned. The only South Africans that Bodog has some sort of faith in are Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj who have been handed the best odds for the first innings going into the first Test of the series.

Bodog

Squads

India: Virat Kohli (Capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk),Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma (vc), Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen.

Venue: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium

When to watch: October 2-6, 2019, 9 AM

Where to watch: Hotstar and Star Network

You can also follow all the ups and downs of the game live on Bodog - a place where you can gauge exactly who holds the upper hand in the game at any point of time.

Predicted XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (captain), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain), Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, Keshav Maharaj, Dane Piedt, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.