In the Boxing Day Test between India and South Africa at SuperSport Park, the visiting skipper, Temba Bavuma, won the toss and chose to field first. Opting to utilize the moisture from the covered pitch, Bavuma aimed to secure early breakthroughs. Despite concerns about Lungi Ngidi's fitness, Bavuma expressed satisfaction with the team's overall physical condition. Notably, two newcomers, Nandre Burger and David Bedingham, marked their debut for South Africa, amplifying the team's pace attack with four seamers.
Responding to this decision, Indian captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged the familiarity with the conditions due to prior visits. Sharma stressed the importance of setting a substantial target while relying on the bowlers to perform. Recognizing the challenges posed by batting first under overhead conditions and on a grassy pitch, Sharma conveyed his team's readiness for the task. He highlighted India's aspirations, having narrowly missed victories in their previous two tours.
Sharma also outlined India's lineup adjustments, with Ashwin replacing the injured Jadeja due to a back spasm. Emphasizing Prasidh Krishna's Test debut alongside fellow pacers Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah, Sharma expressed confidence in the team's composition.
The playing XIs for the match were:
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (w), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
(With Agency Inputs)
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