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South Africa vs India 1st Test Predictions - Proteas backed to take series lead against India

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 25 Dec 2023

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Ralph Staniforth 25 Dec 2023

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Watch South Africa vs India in the 1st Test from 26 January (10:00 SAST)
Proteas have won their last 2 Test matches at home against India
Can the hosts upset the odds?

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South Africa backed to beat India at home (Getty Images)

South Africa vs India Preview

India are favourites for this first Test, but South Africa do have a good record at home. I fancy the hosts to win this Boxing Day Test.

South Africa vs India Preview
Head to Head
South Africa Form
South Africa Injuries & Team News
India Form
India Injuries & Team News

South Africa have won their last 2 Test matches against India.
South Africa won their last home Test series against India.
South Africa beat the West Indies in their last Test series.
South Africa’s Aiden Markram scored 96 runs in his last Test match.
India reached the World Test Championship final earlier this year.
India have won 1 of their last 5 Test matches.
India’s Rohit Sharma has scored 50+ runs in his last 2 Test innings.

Head to Head

India have won three of their last five Test matches against South Africa, but the last two games went in the Proteas favour. At the end of 2021 and the start of 2022, India took a 1-0 series lead but the Proteas bounced back to win both the Boxing Day and New Years Tests.

South Africa Form

South Africa have not played any Test cricket since March this year when they beat the West Indies 2-0 at home. Prior to that they lost in England and Australia.

In the final Test against the Windies, South Africa scored 320 batting first with Aiden reaching 96 runs. The West Indies responded with 251 runs before a superb 172 runs by Temba Bavuma saw an under-pressure South African side to 321.

The visitors were bowled out for 106 runs in the final innings which secured a 284-run win for South Africa.

South Africa Injuries & Team News

Former captain, Dean Elgar will retire after this series. Otherwise, the Proteas team is at full strength.

India Form

After winning the ODI series against South Africa, India will want to walk away with the Test series as well. Some of the players rested for that series has returned to the test squad.

India have not played much Test cricket this year but did reach the World Test Championship final. They suffered defeat in that final against Australia in June.

While disappointing, India remains among the top playing test nations in the world. Their record in South Africa is not great, but they are far better than they were a decade or more ago.

India Injuries & Team News

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Bumrah have all returned to the squad after missing the ODI series.

Verdict

South Africa v India 1st Test

I'm backing South Africa to win and Aiden Markram to top score for the hosts in the first innings.

Rohit Sharma is backed in the best India batsman market.

South Africa Win

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