New South African guard faces old and daunting India Test as a colossal task awaits proteas’ eight newcomers.
South Africa have picked a team best suited for the subcontinent. But conditions here expose even seasoned teams, let alone first-timers and new guards.
It wouldn’t be too harsh to state that South Africa’s last two trips to India were failures in terms of both conditions and character. South Africa was in a precarious position in 2019, lacking a permanent coach and on the verge of an administrative collapse that altered the game, after their nine-year unbeaten streak away from home was ended when they were outspun in 2015.
However, six years is a long time in sports, and South Africa has completely rebuilt. Despite having less experience than their predecessors, they are nonetheless a formidable Test team.
They have put together a team of people who have been there, but they haven’t done it. This includes speed leader Kagiso Rabada, opening batsman Aiden Markram, skipper Temba Bavuma, and what seem to be sub-continent experts, even though many of them are unfamiliar with Tests in India.
Eight members of South Africa’s team have never played a Test match in India, and three more have little experience but may still be useful.
Ryan Rickelton, the opening batsman, will go to India for the second time in nine months after his first IPL appearance in 2025. Prior to this year, Rickelton had never visited there.
Although those figures will boost his confidence, Rickelton is aware that switching from red-ball to white-ball cricket will require him to muster the discipline he “puts away,” as he puts it.
Tony de Zorzi, who had lost his spot to Rickelton earlier this year, seized the chance when Bavuma was sidelined by injury during the Pakistan series. He scored 55 in Rawalpindi and a century in Lahore, his second Test century and second in the subcontinent. He should be a serious contender for the starting XI because of his ability to play spin.
Dewald Brevis is well-known in India because his achievements at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup earned him his first IPL contract, but the initial excitement seldom materialised. After two quiet seasons for MI, Brevis was reevaluated as a Chennai Super Kings substitute last season. His credentials were demonstrated by two swift half-centuries towards the close of the campaign.
With two ducks and a run-a-ball 54 in the Tests, he had an odd tour of Pakistan that was all or nothing. South Africa, who view Brevis as a wild card with the capacity to alter the course of a session and particularly surprise the opposition with his batting rate, are unfazed by this.
Tristan Stubbs has had a challenging year, struggling for form in all formats, including the IPL. Where South Africa wants to bat Stubbs in Tests appears to be a problem. His century in Bangladesh came at No. 3, and he has played at Nos. 3, 4, and 5. This could influence how, if at all, South Africa uses him in India. He is probably vying with Wiaan Mulder or de Zorzi for a berth.
This series is crucial for Kyle Verreynne, who is regarded as one of South Africa’s top spin players, both with the bat and with the gloves. Verreynne was the South African with the most hundreds, having scored three in the previous cycle.
Mulder has done everything from opening the bowling to batting anywhere from No. 3 to No. 8 to filling in as captain, so it’s still unclear exactly how he fits into South Africa’s plans. However, this tour might offer some guidance.
Mulder’s selection might depend on how South Africa arranges their lineup and whether they expect some swing. Despite being pretty high up the pecking order due to his century in the second Test against Bangladesh last year, which followed a fifty in the first Test, he might not be high enough given the resources available to South Africa.
All it takes to bring back thoughts of Marco Jansen’s abilities on the big stage is the 2023 ODI World Cup. Jansen experienced considerable stage fright versus India after dominating Powerplays for the majority of the group stage.
Since then, he has improved his big-match disposition, and in the most recent IPL, he was the top-performing bowler from South Africa. This series will test Jansen’s ability to apply his well-known left-arm angle, aggression, and even big-hitting to Tests in India.
Corbin Bosch, a late bloomer on the international scene, has had an incredible year, making his debut for South Africa in all formats and earning an IPL deal. Despite having only played three games for MI—the length of his experience in India—his skill set has made him more popular than someone like Lungi Ngidi. Bosch is a confident ball-striker and truly quick, frequently reaching speeds of above 140 kph. He did well in the white-ball series against Pakistan, and even though he might not make the starting lineup right away, he offers solid support.