The India vs South Africa 1st Test will start on December 26. Some fans might feel like it’s deja vu, and they aren’t wrong. Two years ago, on the very same day, India began their Test series against South Africa. The IND vs SA 2021-22 Test series was also a 3-match endeavour and the first match of the series was played at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. However, that’s where the similarities end.
The last time India faced the Proteas in South Africa, Virat Kohli was the Indian skipper. It proved to be the last series for India’s most successful Test captain. The India vs South Africa Test series started like a dream, with India winning the Boxing Day Test by 113 runs.
But things took an unfortunate turn from then on. The India cricket team had already lost Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja to injury before the series, and skipper Virat Kohli joined him, missing the India vs South Africa 2nd Test comfortably (7 wickets).
With the series tied at 1-1, skipper Kohli returned, but India’s fortunes didn’t. It was the end of an era as Kohli hung his boots as Test captain after losing the India vs South 3rd Test by 7 wickets. However, it wasn’t just Kohli India lost. Other seniors like Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane had seen their form dip, and from then on they were in and out of the team.
Arguably the strongest Indian team to tour South Africa lost, not only in matches but also in their legacy. Kohli couldn’t mount the Proteas mountain, and while he is still playing, Pujara, Rahane, and Ishant are nowhere in the reckoning.
India vs South Africa Test series 2021/22: Result and Squad
1st Test: India won by 113 runs
2nd Test: South Africa won by 7 wickets
3rd Test: South Africa won by 7 wickets
India cricket team squad: Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Md. Siraj.
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