The Indian cricket team is currently on a brief break. The Men in Blue played a T20I series against New Zealand just two days after the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 ended. India whitewashed the Blackcaps 3-0. The two teams then met in a Test series, where India emerged victorious by 1-0. India’s next opponents are South Africa.
In the last few years, India have won overseas Test series against Australia and taken series lead against England. However, they have never beaten South Africa in a Test series on South African soil. The two teams will soon go head-to-head and the two squads for the upcoming 3-match series have been announced. South Africa have named six IPL 2021 stars in their Test squad. Here’s a list of those six names.
1. Anrich Nortje will play for South Africa vs. India
Pace bowler Anrich Nortje has been very impressive in the IPL. He has played 24 matches for the Delhi Capitals, scalping 34 wickets at an economy rate of 7.65.
Nortje played for DC in IPL 2021 and will continue playing for them in the 2022 season. The right-arm pacer is present in the Proteas squad for the home Tests against India.
2. Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram went unsold in the IPL 2021 Player Auction, but the Punjab Kings signed him as a replacement ahead of the UAE leg of the 2021 season.
Markram played six games for the Mohali-based franchise, scoring 146 runs at a strike rate of 122.69. The 27-year-old will turn up for the Proteas in the upcoming Test series.
3. Marco Jansen will play for South Africa vs. India
It seems the South African selectors know that the Indian batters struggle against left-arm pacers. Thus, they have picked uncapped Marco Jansen in the team.
Rohit Sharma would have an idea about Jansen because he played for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021. Jansen played two games, scalping two wickets.
4. Quinton de Kock
Former South African captain Quinton de Kock will keep the wickets for the rainbow nation in their upcoming Test series against the Indian side.
Quinton has played for multiple IPL teams, and he has achieved the highest success with the Mumbai Indians. So far in his IPL career, de Kock has scored 2,256 runs.
5. Kagiso Rabada will play for South Africa vs. India
Express pace bowler Kagiso Rabada will unite forces with his IPL 2021 Delhi Capitals teammate Anrich Nortje for the Proteas in the ICC World Test Championship matches against India. Rabada had made his Test debut against India back in 2015.
The right-arm pacer has troubled the Indian batters in international cricket as well as in the IPL. So far in his IPL career, Rabada has picked up 76 wickets in 50 matches.
6. Lungi Ngidi
Lungi Ngidi is the fourth pace-bowling option to feature on the list. The 25-year-old from Durban won the IPL 2021 championship with the Chennai Super Kings squad.
Ngidi will look to impress in the upcoming Tests against India. He is unlikely to start in the first Test match but could receive a chance to play in the later games.