5 players to watch out for in the India-South Africa Test series

The long-awaited India's tour of South Africa is just a few days away. It's the clash of the top 2 sides in the ICC Test Rankings and the one that every cricket lover was waiting for. The 2 sides will take on each other in series across all formats and it will start with three Test matches and it makes for a mouth-watering contest. There has been plenty of talk about how the men in blue have been invincible at home but they need to prove their mettle outside the subcontinent especially in countries like South Africa. The time has arrived for Virat Kohli and his men to answer the critics and what better stage than the Rainbow Nation to prove themselves in. Both sides are heavily star-studded. Some of the biggest names in world cricket will take the field simultaneously and one can expect a fierce competition in all 3 Tests. While there are a number of key players in either side, a few of them will be under the scanner in the entire series.

Let's take a look at the 5 players to watch out for in the India-South Africa Test series

#1 Virat Kohli

Talk about Indian cricket and there is one man who stands above the rest regardless of the format. Virat Kohli, the leader of the pack and the face of the game in the nation is always the player to watch out for. He has had a tremendous run in Test cricket in the past couple of years as he has notched up 6 double centuries since he took over the reigns from MS Dhoni. In the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, he made a mockery of the opposition as he slammed centuries in all 3 Tests which consisted of 2 consecutive double tons. The 29-year-old has a happy memory of touring South Africa as last time, he scored 272 runs in 4 innings that included a century and a fifty and also the Man of the Match award in Johannesburg. If team India is to create history in the Rainbow Nation, Virat Kohli is the man that needs to deliver big time.

#2 AB de Villiers

Just like Virat Kohli, another big star who grabs everyone's attention wherever he plays is the Mr.360 AB de Villiers. After taking a long break from the longest format of the game, he recently made a return in the solitary Test against Zimbabwe where he announced his comeback with a brisk knock of 53. The Indian bowlers must be wary of the threat that AB brings with him even in Test cricket. Even though his last encounter in Test cricket against India didn't bring loads of runs for him as the men in blue defeated South Africa in India. But the previous Test series played between the 2 sides in South Africa proved to be a great one for de Villiers. He proved to be the thorn in the flesh of India as he denied the visitors a victory in the first Test and then played a clinical role in his side's win in the second one.

#3 Ajinkya Rahane

India have enjoyed a tremendous run in their own backyard as they defeated teams like Australia, England and New Zealand in the year gone by but Ajinkya Rahane has gone through a lean patch during that period. Even though he grabbed on the opportunities he got in limited overs cricket but his woes in the whites continued. In the Test series against Sri Lanka, he managed to score just 17 runs in 5 innings. But because he was the most consistent batsman for India when the team had a long overseas run a couple of years back. He registered centuries in Australia, England, New Zealand and managed a knock of 96 in South Africa. The South African pitches will offer pace and bounce and he is someone who has never had issues with that. His inconsistent form recently and a good overseas record will keep him under the scanner in the series.

#4 Kagiso Rabada

Among the most promising young talents in the current era is South Africa's Kagiso Rabada. At a very young age, the pacer became a prominent member of the Protean team in all 3 formats. His raw pace combined with the ability to swing makes him a lethal bowler especially on the surfaces of South Africa. Rabada's recent form has been terrific. In 2017, he bagged 57 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 20.28 and a strike rate of 37.8. He finished as the second highest wicket-taker of the year behind Nathan Lyon and the highest wicket-taker amongst the fast bowlers. The Indian batsmen will face a stern test against the fire of Rabada.

#5 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichanrdan Ashwin — Ravichandran Ashwin

India had been enjoying a grand home season by defeating every team that came their way and the biggest credit for that goes to Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner has been the most prolific wicket-taker for the side in the last couple of years. It seems like yesterday that he made his debut for India yet he already has become the fastest in the world to bag 300 Test wickets. Although he has been picking up wickets at the rate of knots yet there is a big hurdle for him to cross. His overseas numbers are far worse than his home numbers. In becoming the best spinner in the world, only the overseas record becomes a big obstacle for him. But he is a massively improved bowler since the last time he played outside the subcontinent. The offie has matured a lot and one can expect better returns from him this time around. Stay connected with all the happenings in cricket. Follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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5 players to watch out for in the India-South Africa Test series

#4 Kagiso Rabada