South Africa haven’t won a Test in India for 15-years:Spin all-rounders to pose major threat again, read 6 key factors that could decide the series

World Test Champion South Africa is on a tour of India, where they have to play a two-match Test series. This tour will not be easy for the African team, as they have not won a single Test match in India for 15 years. However, South Africa has not lost a single series since winning the World Test Championship (WTC) in June 2025. Both Test matches will be held in Kolkata and Guwahati. On the spin-friendly pitches here, spin all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel will prove to be India’s biggest strength. Along with these three, Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav could prove to be a big problem for the South African batsmen. Defeated Zimbabwe 2-0, Drew in Pakistan
South Africa had won the WTC title by defeating Australia at Lord’s Stadium in London between June 11 and 14. After this, the African team completed a 2-0 clean sweep on the Zimbabwe tour, while the two-match series played on the Pakistan tour ended in a 1-1 draw. South Africa’s unbeaten campaign can be stopped by the Indian team led by Shubman Gill. Why this might happen, we are explaining here in 6 factors. Read 6 Factors 1. South Africa has not won in India for the last 15 years
South Africa has not been able to win a Test match on Indian soil for the last 15 years. The team’s last victory came in 2010 in Nagpur under the captaincy of Graeme Smith. Then Africa defeated India by an innings and 6 runs. In that match, Hashim Amla played a magnificent unbeaten innings of 253 runs and was chosen as the ‘Player of the Match’. After that match, 8 Tests have been played between the two teams in India, in which Africa has lost 7 and one has been a draw. South Africa first toured India in 1996. They achieved their first and only Test series win in India in 1999. So far, 7 Test series have been played between the two teams in India. India has won 4, South Africa has won 1, while 2 series have been drawn. 2. Batting will not be easy on a slow wicket Indian pitches can be a big headache for the South African team’s batters. The first match of the series will be played in Kolkata and the second in Guwahati. Typically, Indian pitches are slow and spin-friendly. In such a situation, batting here will not be easy for the African batters. 3. Apart from Keshav Maharaj, no one else has experience 3 specialist spinners have been selected in the South African team announced for the Indian tour 15 days ago. Among them, apart from Keshav Maharaj, there is no other experienced spinner. Keshav Maharaj has played 60 Test matches so far, in which he has taken 212 wickets. Simon Harmer has experience of 12 and S Muthusamy has only 7 Test matches. 4. We have 3 spin all-rounders and Kuldeep too
India has 3 spin all-rounders, and not only that, Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav has also been included in the squad against South Africa. Further performance of these 4 players 5. Indian Team’s Strong Performance on Home Pitches
India holds the world record for winning the most consecutive Test series on their home ground. The team had won 18 consecutive Test series from 2012 to 2024. This winning streak was halted by New Zealand last year. At that time, the Indian team suffered a 0-3 clean sweep. The Indian team clean swept the 2-match series against West Indies last month. 6. Rishabh Pant’s return, Dhruv Jurel in excellent form Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is making a comeback to the Indian team. Dhruv Jurel is also in good form. Both batters have performed brilliantly in the 2 unofficial Test series against South Africa A. Pant has scored 196 runs with the help of 2 half-centuries in 2 matches. While, Dhruv Jurel scored 259 runs with the help of 2 centuries. He is the top scorer of the series.