India vs South Africa: A Comprehensive Preview of The Upcoming Cricket Tourism
India and South Africa are both emerging as leading destinations for international cricket. The two countries have played a major role in ensuring that the sport remains relevant, especially during times when it is struggling to retain its appeal among millennials. If you are an ardent follower of the game, you would know that the next season of International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments will kick-start in June this year. Both India and South Africa are set to play host to some of the biggest international games between June and September this year. It’s just the right time to take an in-depth look at what the India vs South Africa match has planned ahead of us.
The Test series between India and South Africa shall always be known as the Freedom series, according to the South African advertisement, in recognition of their common experience in achieving freedom through nonviolence.
But what goes behind the cricket history of India tour of South Africa?
1992-93
Mohammad Azharuddin was the first captain to captain India to South Africa since their readmission 25 years ago. The team included Sachin Tendulkar, who is 19 years old. For the greater leap, South Africa was prepared.
In Durban, these teams played their inaugural Test match. Omar Henry became the nation’s first black Test cricketer (though some would argue that Buck Llewellyn was the first). At 40, Henry also made his debut in a Test match.
The series is renowned for still another reason, though. This was the first Test game in which the third umpire was utilized. Tendulkar was ruled to have run out, making Karl Liebenberg the first television umpire to have an impact on an on-field decision.
At Johannesburg, the second Test also resulted in a tie. Tendulkar’s hundred made an impression. Despite a quick-fire knock by Kapil, Hansie Cronje and Allan Donald propelled South Africa to a 9-wicket victory at Port Elizabeth.
At Cape Town, the fourth Test resulted in a tie. India earned a series loss of 0-1.
1996-97
South Africa has just been defeated 2-1 at home by India. South Africa pressed India hard during their return tour. India dropped the series after losing the Cape Town Test by a score of 282 runs. In the Test, McMillan recorded a hundred, a fifty, two catches, and two wickets.
Rahul Dravid reached 100 in a Test for the first time in Johannesburg. However, poor lighting prevented the tourists from winning their first Test in South Africa despite India dominating the match.
2006-07
At Bloemfontein, Tendulkar played historic 155-run innings. Virender Sehwag scored 105 on his first Test. These efforts fell short as Shaun Pollock collected a 10-wicket haul, resulting in a 9-wicket loss.
In India, Denness effigies were officially burned, the issue was examined in the Indian Parliament, and the ICC was charged with discrimination. India made the decision to add Sehwag. The final game’s Test status was revoked in retaliation by the ICC.
The game was handily won by South Africa. Connor Williams never received a Test cap despite handling fast bowling as well as any of his colleagues during the match.
2010-11
As captain, MS Dhoni was making his maiden trip to South Africa. According to the ICC Test Rankings, India was the top-ranked team.
They, unfortunately, ran into reality in the first Test, where the combined efforts of Morne Morkel and Steyn weakened India’s batting. With 111 unbeaten—his 50th Test hundred—Tendulkar fought valiantly. Even though Dhoni counterattacked 90 times, it wasn’t enough to win the war.
The unplayable bouncer that Sreesanth threw at Kallis will live in infamy.
In the end, the honors were split between the unstoppable force and the immovable object. Unquestionably, it was among the biggest conflicts of the twenty-first century. India did not lose a series in South Africa for the first time in five tries.
2013-14
In Durban, the Boxing Day Test was held. In South Africa, Vijay finally found success and was dismissed three short of his hundred. South Africa responded with 500 to India’s 334. In his final Test, Kallis scored 115 points.
India lost the Test in the second innings with a score of 223, with just Ajinkya Rahane remaining. South Africa won by a margin of 10 wickets.
2017-18
India didn’t participate in a pregame game. Kohli is in charge. His first complete season as a skipper outside of the subcontinent is this one. Though the former will miss the opening Test, Steyn and de Villiers have rejoined the South African team. The last time the two met in Tests, India had humiliated South Africa on spin-friendly tracks at home, ending their rule as the No. 1 Test side.
South Africa Tour of India 2022
Indian Team played their 2nd one-day match against South Africa on 09th October 2022, Sunday at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. The team India will lead by Shikhar Dhawan and South Africa team will be led by Temba Bavuma. The match started at 01:30 PM IST and the toss of the 2nd One Day match was done at 01:00 PM IST.
Concluding Words
The relationship between India and South Africa goes beyond beard trimmings and score-settling. The so-called Freedom Series has timeless historical and cultural allusions. India was without senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah when the two teams squared off in June. The forthcoming match, though, will be even more exciting given that they are back in the lineup and are also in fantastic shape. On September 28, the first of the three T20Is was played between the two hot teams.