Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Team India put in the hard work for the Test series vs SA - WATCH

The Indian cricket team is slated to play South Africa on December 26, 2023, after winning the ODI series. On Thursday, the KL Rahul-led ODI team won 2-1 and came out on top. After the ODI World Cup, important veterans like Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli will be making their comebacks in the forthcoming two-match Test series.  

3 things you need to know 

• India tied the T20I series against SA by 1-1 
• India beat South Africa in the 3rd ODI by 78 runs 
• India triumphed in the ODI series by 2-1

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Team India looks to beat South Africa in the Test series 

On Boxing Day, December 26, India will play their maiden Test match against South Africa, starting a two-match series under the direction of Rohit Sharma's side. The game, which will be played at Centurion's Supersport Park, will mark the comeback of a number of important Indian players who took a hiatus from the game after their country's defeat to Australia in the World Cup 2023 Finals.

The Indian batting team, which included KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Rohit Sharma, had rigorous practice sessions before to the game. A day before the Test match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a video showing the best Indian hitters practising in the nets.

Significantly, India hopes to end their losing record in the Test series played in South Africa by winning the next two matches of the series. Nevertheless, Mohammed Shami, one of India's best pacers, will miss the series after the BCCI declared him unfit. Ishan Kishan withdrew, Ruturaj Gaikwad injured his finger, and late in the build-up, KS Bharat and Abhimanyu Easwaran were recruited to the team.

India has recently won 2-1 in the One-Day International format and drawn in the Twenty20 International series against South Africa. In limited-overs cricket, India's spinners have overpowered South Africa's hitters, but in the Test series, things should be different.

Tensions increased during the last Indian Test series in South Africa, which resulted in Virat Kohli resigning as red-ball captain. In addition, this series will be Dean Elgar's last Test match as captain of South Africa.

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India vs South Africa Test squad

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (Vice Captain), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wicket-keeper).