SA vs IND 1st Test Match Prediction & Betting Tips
So far on this tour, the T20I series was drawn 1-1 and India won the ODIs 2-1, but now the attention switches to red ball cricket and two Tests between South Africa and India. The opening Test gets underway in Centurion on Tuesday as part of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship cycle. Read on as we preview this game. The Boxing Day Test gets underway at 10:00 local time at SuperSport Park.
You have to go all the way back to the start of March to find the last time South Africa player Test cricket but this series has been prioritised by the team management who rested key players during the T20I and ODI series earlier in the month. South Africa have experienced and quality players throughout their team.
India have gone all the way to the World Test Championship Final in both of the editions so far but are yet to make the final step of winning the competition. With nearly their first choice side available, they will be full of confidence ahead of the Centurion Test.
South Africa vs India 1st Test Match Live Streaming
TV channels: This game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, SuperSport and Sky Cricket.
Live Streaming: You can live-stream the match on Sky Go and Disney+ Hotstar.
SA vs IND Match Toss Prediction
With plenty of rain and humid weather forecast before and during the five days of this Test, we expect both teams to choose to bowl first if they win the toss ahead of this game.
SA vs IND Pitch Report
In the last Test played in Centurion, we saw only one total out of four above 215. We expect a lively surface and a par score in the first innings will be around 275.
Centurion Weather Report
According to the forecast, there could be rain delays across all bar one of the five scheduled days of this Test Match. The temperature will be in the mid-low twenties across this Test.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds, and match prediction for South Africa vs India 1st Test 2023
South Africa Team News & Playing 11
SA Team News
After picking three uncapped Test players in their squad for the Boxing Day Test, Nandre Burger, David Bendingham and Tristan Stubbs, it remains to be seen if any will make the XI. Kagiso Rabada is expected to play after resting from the T20Is, ODIs and warm-up fixture.
SA Key Players
- Temba Bavuma- the skipper picked up an injury towards the end of the 2023 Cricket World Cup but has been resting over the last month. He made a pair in his last Test at Centurion so he will be even more keen to contribute.
- Tony de Zorzi- after hitting 85 in his last Test appearance and making scores of 119 not out and 81 in the final two ODIs, the left-hander could be an excellent attacking option for South Africa in this Test.
- Kagiso Rabada- the right-arm quick bowler returned his best Test innings bowling figures of 7/112 and his best Test Match bowling figures of 13/144 at Centurion.
- Marco Jansen- the bowling all-rounder was one of the star performers during the 2023 Cricket World Cup where he picked up 17 wickets. He will be fresh and raring to go after being rested after the first two T20Is.
SA Team Form
Although it is nearly ten months since South Africa played Test cricket, they won their last two games by 284 runs and by 87 runs.
South Africa Predicted Playing 11
Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Keegan Petersen, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada / Nandre Burger, Keshav Maharaj
India Team News & Playing 11
IND Team News
Over the ten days approaching this game, there have been three withdrawals from the India squad with Mohammed Shami and Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out through injury and Ishan Kishan leaving for personal reasons. KS Bharat was added to the squad and Abhimanyu Easwaraan is also expected to be called up.
IND Key Players
- Virat Kohli- although the former skipper has returned home for personal reasons, he is expected back in time for the Boxing Day Test where he will be looking to add to his tally of 80 international centuries.
- Rohit Sharma- the right-handed opener comes into this Test in strong form in this format after hitting scores of 43. 103, 80 and 57 from his last four innings.
- Jasprit Bumrah- the vice-captain has 8x five-wicket hauls to his name in Test cricket and will begin this Test in Centurion with 351 international wickets.
- Ravindra Jadeja- the all-rounder is a vital part of this Indian side where he so often contributes to important partnerships with the bat and will get plenty of spin as the match progresses.
IND Team Form
This will be India’s first Test since July when they beat West Indies by an innings and 141 runs before drawing the final match of the series.
India Predicted Playing 11
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mukesh Kumar
South Africa vs India Head to Head
This will be the first time the two sides go head to head in Tests since two years ago when South Africa came from behind to beat India 2-1. However, it was India who won at Centurion when the Test teams last played there.
SA vs IND Head to Head Stats in Tests
| |
Matches Played |
SA Won |
IND Won |
Tie |
NR |
| Overall |
42 |
17 |
15 |
0 |
10 |
| Last 5 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
South Africa vs India Betting Odds
The bookmakers do not expect either side to dominate this Test. South Africa can be backed at 2.75 with India the slight favourites to go 1-0 up in the series at 2.35.
Who will win South Africa vs India 1st Test Match?
Although India are yet to lose a series during this tour, they have lost a T20I and an ODI and have never won a Test series before in South Africa. However, looking at the two groups of players, we think India have more quality throughout their team.
🏆 South Africa vs India Prediction
India will be happy with their returns so far on this tour but South Africa have also contributed to fine T20I and ODI series. Fans of both teams will now be looking forward to this Test series which promises to be another keenly contested two games. South Africa have an exciting young bowling attack but player for player we think that India have more depth in both their batting and bowling units. Our prediction is for a close Boxing Day Test in Centurion, but we are backing India to win.
India to beat South Africa in the 1st Test
Dec 26 - Dec 28, 2023
13:30 IST / 8:00 GMT
SuperSport Park - Centurion, South Africa
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