South Africa Vs India, 2018: Five reasons this Indian Side can make history on African shores

Come January 5 and cricketing world will come to a standstill. India will face South Africa in first of the three-match Test series. Last time the two teams faced, India whitewashed proteas 3-0. However, the story was different, that was in India, where they have won everything that has come their way. Tests, ODIs or even twenty20, team India, has won it all.

This time India is playing in South Africa, and as per speculations team India will face some chin music, and pitches will favor the pacemen.

History not being on team India’s side – It has managed to win just two test matches in South Africa under Dravid and Dhoni Respectively.  While both critics and   fans are apprehensive about the outcome of the series, here are five reasons why this Indian team can create history by winning the series:

1) Virat Kohli to lead from front: There needs no introduction to this man when it comes to batting. Besides, Kohli has been just fantastic with leading the team Kohli has won almost everything till now, and if he leads the team the way he has done in the recent past, there is no doubt India will win this series. His aggression and leadership both can inspire his team to do the undone. He has a flair of MS Dhoni and aggression of Sourav Ganguly, and if he can mix them well, he will create history.

2) Aging African Pacemen: Although it is being speculated that South Africa will play a four throng pace attack, it could very well be in favor of India. Dale Steyn hasn’t played an international match for almost two years now, and Morne Morkel and Philander are just returning from injury. With little or no match practice, the aging trio could very well be an advantage India. One cannot even deny the fact that three pacers of South Africa are above 32 and it becomes hard for fast bowlers to deliver at such an age.

3) The absence of Jacques Kallis: Every time India came close to winning a series in South Africa, there was one man who made sure they did not. Jacques Kallis averaged a staggering 69.36 against India and had a total of seven centuries and five half-centuries to his name in just 18 matches. He also has 22 wickets against them. With no all-rounder around in their setup this time around, It should be easier to deal with the likes of Philander for India.

4) Experienced Indian batting line up: More than three Indian batsmen will be touring South Africa for the third time now. And that could very well mean being accustomed to the conditions. And what will decide the course of the series, will be how well Indian batsmen adapt to the conditions. Both Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli have tons on African soil and have experience of two tours behind their backs. With Vijay having scored runs in seaming English conditions, it seems evident that the experienced Indian batting could very well change the fortunes of the team.

5) Bhuvneshvar Kumar: If anyone among the Indian pace duo were itching his hands most and waiting for the cherry to be in his hand, it would be none but Bhuvi, having struggled on seaming English conditions in the tour of 2014, Bhuvi remodeled himself and added few yards to his pace. If Bhuvneshvar Kumar can maintain his pace throughout the series, he can become the most potent weapon for Kohli on seaming south African pitches and India could very well win the series.