India’s tour of South Africa is set to
start with the Centurion Test at SuperSport Park on Sunday. India will look to
win their first Test series in South Africa, while the Proteas will aim to keep
their domination over India intact. During the 2017-18 Freedom Trophy, when India
last toured South Africa, the hosts defeated India 2-1.

Also Read: South Africa vs India Test series: 5 Indian players to watch out for

As India target a historic Test series win,
fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will look to achieve their
individual milestones. Both Bumrah and Shami, who were rested for the New Zealand
series, will return to the Indian team in the first Test against South Africa.

Since making his debut in 2018, Bumrah has
taken 101 wickets in Test cricket in just 24 matches at an average of 22.79. Of those 24 Tests, he
played just two matches in India, and those two matches he played against
England in February earlier this year. He took four wickets in Chennai Test
while in Ahmadabad Test he went wicketless.

Also Read: Zaheer Khan hails this Indian bowler as ‘truly world-class’ ahead of South Africa tour

While playing in overseas conditions,
Bumrah took 97 wickets. Now he is just three wickets away from completing 100
Test wickets away from India. As the South African conditions suit seam
bowlers, Bumrah is expected to complete the feat in the Centurion Test itself.
It was South Africa where Bumrah had made his Test debut during India’s last
tour in 2018.

Shami waits to join an exclusive list 

In the meantime, Bumrah’s fast bowling
partner Mohammed Shami is just five wickets away from becoming just the fifth
Indian pacer after Kapil Dev, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, and Javagal Srinath
to pick 200 wickets in Test cricket. Shami has taken 195 wickets in 54 Tests at
an average of 27.57.

Also Read: Ravi Shastri names 3 Indian cricketers who are brilliant

India have so far won only three Tests in
South Africa. The last time India toured South Africa they lost the series 2-1.

After the Centurion Test, the two sides
will face off again in Johannesburg (from January 3) and in Cape Town (from
January 11).

Also Read: South Africa vs India Test series: 5 Proteas players to watch out for

The Test series will be succeeded by a
three-match ODI series, which will be played in Paarl from January 19.