After a dominant run in the long home season, India will start their overseas tour with the South Africa series also knows as Freedom Series. Team India will play three Test matches followed by six ODIs and three T20Is during their two-month long tour.
The Test series is due to start from January 5 in Newlands, Capetown. India team under the leadership of Virat Kohli has a good chance to change their fortunes in the Rainbow Nation. Notably, India has never won a series in South Africa so far.
The series is now renamed as the ‘Freedom Series’. It was South Africa’s way of reciprocating India’s efforts in ending the country’s sporting isolation in 1991. Earlier it was called the ‘Friendship Series.’
“India had been among the principal opponents of apartheid. The Freedom Series was felt by both nations to be a more fitting name in recognition of South Africa’s and India’s shared history of winning freedom through non-violence, not to mention their shared love of cricket!” a South African press release stated.
Winter is Here! #FreedomSeries #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/HBcicStQoa
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 3, 2018
Today, Virat Kohli and his counterpart from South Africa, Faf du Plessis was seen unveiling the Freedom Series Trophy ahead of the first Test match at Capetown starting Friday.
Centurion and Johannesburg will host the other two Test matches. It will be an enthralling series between Indian batters and South Africa pace battery. The young Indian team is confident about putting up a good show in the lands of Nelson Mandela.
Here is the newsfeed:
Shikhar Dhawan Fit Again, Available for the First Test
Ravindra Jadeja Down with Viral Illness
Follow South Africa vs India 2018 Series here: SOUTH AFRICA VS INDIA 2018
