Former Indian Opener Sunil Gavaskar backs Rohit Sharma and Co. to celebrate the new year with a 1-0 lead over host South Africa at Centurion. Sunil Gavaskar believes that the opening Test offers the visitors a tremendous chance because of how vulnerable the South African batsmen are.
The Asian giants are still searching for their first ever test series win in South Africa, having not achieved it in the past 31 years. With South Africa set to miss some of their key bowlers, visitors have a golden chance to conquer the final frontier.
The last two times in the three-Test match, the Men in Blue, led by Virat Kohli, let the opportunity slip away. In the 2018–19 series, South Africa won the first two Test matches, but even though visitors led by 1-0 in the 2021–22 leg, South Africa made a great comeback by winning the last two matches to seal the series.
“South African batters aren’t quite in form”-Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar stated that the visiting team has the advantage due to their experience and current form in an interview with Star Sports on Tuesday before the first Test. He believes that South Africa isn’t quite the same team, and their batsmen are not quite in form.
“I think they will because I think South Africa are not quite the same. Also, the South African batters aren’t quite in form and that gives India a terrific opportunity to win this game. Indian batters, on the other hand, have been in prime form in all the matches,” he explained.
The legendary batsman, Sunil Gavaskar continued, saying that on the other hand, Team India has the experience, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have played here so many times before. So they will have a great chance to seal the series.
“If you’ve seen, they have got experience on their side with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing here many times before. So, clearly, I think India will celebrate the New Year with a win,” he added.
After winning the toss, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma puts India in to bat
Temba Bavuma won the coin toss and chose to allow the opposition team to bat first. Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi, who are still recovering from a sprained ankle, are not playing for the home team. So the host decided to go with the four fast bowling options.
However, the No. 1 Test team suffered a major blow when Ravindra Jadeja suffered a back spasm, allowing Ravichandran Ashwin to get a chance. The visitors also gave right-arm pacer Prasidh Krishna his first Test cap as Mohammed Shami is yet to recover from an ankle injury.
At the end of the first day of Boxing Day test match visitors are 208/8 with KL Rahul 70 (105) and Mohammed Siraj 0 (10) on the crease.
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