India will be out with a point to prove this weekend and will surely be fired up ahead of the dead-rubber third
test match against South Africa in Johannesburg starting on Wednesday.
South Africa vs India
24th – 28th January 2018
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
10:00 am SA time
South Africa swept India aside in the second test in Pretoria, largely thanks to sensational second innings bowling performance by the Proteas, particularly that of debutant Lungisani Ngidi. The 21-year-old fast bowler from Durban took 6 wickets for just 39 runs as he almost single-handedly whittled India down to a measly 151 all-out as the sub-continental giants succumbed to a 135-run defeat. AB de Villiers is seemingly approaching his brilliant best once again. He followed up his half-century (65) from the first innings of the first test with another (80) in the second innings of the second test which helped lay the foundations for their crushing victory.
Series Leading Runs Scorers:
- AB de Villiers – 200 runs; 4 innings
- Virat Kohli – 191 runs; 4 innings
- Faf du Plessis – 173 runs; 4 innings
- Aiden Markram – 134 runs; 4 innings
- Dean Elgar – 117 runs; 4 innings
Indian skipper Virat Kohli will be in confident mood going into to Wednesday’s third and final test. He scored a stunning 153 in the first innings at Centurion as he played his part in reducing the deficit but despite his efforts, he could not follow it up in the second innings as he fell victim to the new-boy Ngidi and he was trapped in front LBW for just five. He is the only batsmen to reach three figures in this series and has fond memories of his time in Johannesburg. In the drawn first test there in the 2013/14 series, he scored 119 and 96 from his two innings. Another positive to come from the 2017/18 edition is the form of their bowlers in conditions suited to the South Africans. Six of the top ten spots are occupied by the visitors, most notably seamer Mohammed Shami who picked up 4 for 49 in his latest innings.
Series Leading Wicket Takers:
- Vernon Philander – 10 wickets; 146 runs
- Mohammed Shami – 9 wickets; 182 runs
- Kagiso Rabada – 9 wickets; 196 runs
- Morne Morkel – 8 wickets; 166 runs
- Ravichandran Ashwin – 7 wickets; 215 runs
The one giant elephant in the room that will be the Wanderers ‘bull-ring’ this weekend will be India’s shocking form away from home. Despite having never been beaten in a test match in Johannesburg since 1992 (one win and three draws) their recent record on South African shores is nothing short of poor. Despite 14 test tons being scored by Indian batsmen, including five from the legend that is Sachin Tendulkar and two by current captain Virat Kohli, none of these century’s have ever helped India to a victory. They have registered just two wins from 19 test matches in the Rainbow Nation, with seven draws and 10 defeats to their name in that period. While Wanderers will provide some hope of reprieve from a series whitewash, the only real relief for the Indians may come with the weather. Rain is forecast for the entirety of this weekend’s test match so should South Africa look to wrap things up, they may have to do so sooner rather than later.