South Africa vs India: Freedom Trophy Test Matches in Newlands and Cape Town

The Indian cricket team aims to secure their maiden Test series victory in South Africa when they face the Proteas in a two-match Test series commencing on December 26th (Boxing Day) at the Centurion. The next test match will mark the debut of captain Rohit, experienced batsman Virat Kohli, and key fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah following their defeat in the final of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.  

India concluded the ODI series with a 2-1 victory despite playing with a less experienced team after drawing the T20I leg of their South Africa visit. They are optimistic that their success in limited-overs cricket will carry over to the game’s longer format as they aim to achieve their first-ever Test series win in South Africa.

India has been visiting South Africa since the 1992-93 season, although they have been unsuccessful in winning a Test series. In the 2010-11 season, the Proteas came close to winning but ultimately drew the penultimate match, resulting in a 1-1 tie for the three-match Test series.

India vs South Africa Test Series History (In South Africa)

South Africa vs Indian Freedom Trophy Test Series 2023/24: Team Updates 

Several senior members not included in the white-ball teams have returned for the Test series. Rohit Sharma, who experienced heartache in the 2023 World Cup final, is set to play his first international game as the team’s leader since then. Ishan Kishan has opted out of the series due to personal circumstances, resulting in KS Bharat being selected as his successor. The development occurred within 48 hours following Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the tour due to his ankle issue.

India has suffered another setback as Ruturaj Gaikwad has been out from the Test series owing to a fractured finger, which is expected to require approximately five weeks for recovery.

Temba Bavuma, who was given a break during the ODI series, will resume his role as the leader of the South African team. However, it is unclear if Kagiso Rabada can play, even though he has been included in the squad.

The left-arm seamer Nandre Burger, who performed exceptionally well in the limited-overs matches, has been selected for his first Test match, along with batsman David Bedingham and Tristan Stubbs. Additionally, wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynee has been brought back into the team. Dean Elgar, the ex-South Africa skipper, has officially declared his retirement, making this series his final appearance.

SA vs. IND Test Series 2023/24: Predictions and Odds 

In 2021, during their most recent tour to Centurion, India emerged victorious in the Test match held at SuperSport Park, marking the beginning of their series with a triumph. However, they subsequently suffered defeats in matches held at Newlands and the Wanderers.

There is no doubt about the excellence of India’s fast bowlers, but they must also be cautious about their over-rates while relying largely on their quicks.

South Africa had emerged victorious in eight out of their previous nine Test matches at SuperSport Park. However, the defeat against India stands out as an exception. The opening duo of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal played a crucial role in the first stages of the contest.

Betting odds from the recommended bookies in India have released prices for the first test series match on December 26: 

South Africa [2.72] 

Indian [2.36]

Regardless of how powerful the SuperSport Park wicket appears, the team that wins the toss will almost surely begin batting first.

Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin’s versatility could give India a significant batting depth advantage over South Africa, which relies heavily on specialists.

Injury concerns also plague South Africa’s premier fast bowlers, as Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi have missed the white-ball series due to nagging ailments.

And for these reasons, we believe the sportsbooks are correct in placing India as the betting favourite. 

South Africa vs. Indian Test Series Head-to-Head History (Overall) 

South Africa vs. India Freedom Trophy Complete Schedule 

• 1^st Test – December 26-30 @ 01:30 P.M IST (SuperSport Park, Centurion) 
• 2nd Test – January 1, 2024 @ 01:30 P.M. IST (Newlands, Cape Town)