World No 1 India may feel they have never had a better chance of winning their first ever Test series in South Africa.
But the hosts will be a confident group as star batter Virat Kohli made a return to run-making ways after an all too brief blip.
The bowling stocks looks good, but the major concern will be around the batting line-up, which struggled on the recent tour of England.
The Men in Blue lost six wickets for no runs in 11 balls! India's collapse stunned both fans and commentators.
Struggling Mumbai Indians will be hoping their batters get their act together and shoulder responsibility when they take on an inspired Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League match in Mumbai on Monday.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's bowling unit will face a different challenge when they take on Gujarat Titans in an IPL match on Wednesday.
South Africa bounced back from two heavy defeats to beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the third and final One-Day International in Sharjah on Sunday.
South African pacer Lungi Ngidi on Thursday said the Indians were clearly 'frustrated and under pressure' as a controversial DRS call saved home skipper Dean Elgar.
For the world, it is another victory of a cricket team, but for all those Black South Africans, who suffered during apartheid, it come as a sweet redemption.
The letter was also signed by five current coaches including national fielding coach Justin Ontong, ESPNCricinfo had reported.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow, on Friday.
Royal Challengers Bangalor will attempt to break a 17-year jinx at the Chepauk stadium when they face Chennai Super Kings in the IPL match on Friday.
A flawless maiden hundred from opener Ryan Rickelton helped South Africa crush Afghanistan by 107 runs.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the opening Test, played between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday.
As the battle for semi-final berths intensifies in Group B, top-ranked South Africa will aim to assert their dominance and secure a spot in the final four when they face a struggling England in a high-stakes Champions Trophy clash in Karachi on Saturday.
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada and Test captain Temba Bavuma, who are not part of the Proteas white-ball cricket mix to gear up for the Test series against India, won't feature in domestic cricket.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy second Semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday
The depth of fast bowlers at South Africa's disposal was no better evidenced than on Thursday as Corbin Bosch and Dale Paterson took nine of the 10 wickets to dismiss Pakistan for 211 on the opening day of the first Test at Centurion.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Jofra Archer, who smashed 27 from eights, helped Royals hammer 30 runs off the final over to finish on a massive 216 for seven in their 20 overs.
Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi reckons the upcoming home series against India can set the "ball rolling" in the right direction for South African cricket, which has gone through a transition phase over the past few years while enduring upheavals.
Lungi Ngidi decimated India's top order as South Africa triumphed by five wickets
Images from the ICC World Cup match between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, on Sunday.
Devon Conway scored a half-century to guide New Zealand to a seven-run victory over South Africa in a rain-affected World Cup warm-up game on Monday.
Jansen replaces injured Dwaine Pretorius, who fractured his left thumb in the recent series in India.
South Africa 'A' fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, on a comeback trail after injury, bowled Gill, who made a classy 90 in the first innings to leave India 'A' at 10 for one.
23 wickets and several records fell on the opening day of the second and final Test in Cape Town on Wednesday.
After the 72-run loss in the opening Test, the margin got bigger as the visitors handed the home side a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
India and South Africa shared honours in the five-match T20I series after the last game here on Sunday was called off due to rain
As he closes the most revered chapter of his career, here are some of his best Test knocks:
Kohli completed 1,000 runs at ICC T20 World Cup events
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has been criticised for failing to meet "transformational targets" with only one black African in Kagiso Rabada part of the T20 World Cup squad.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji list the 50 Most Valuable Players in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The former skipper called Rohit an "old-school" long-format batter. He added that there will be np competition if Rohit extend his career.
Australian team will be aiming to put up a much better batting performance with a rejigged playing eleven against an upbeat South Africa
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
South Africa are hopeful that both fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi will be available for selection in the first Test against India that gets underway in Pretoria on Tuesday, coach Shukri Conrad has confirmed.
The country's woes at World Cups, be it the 50-over or shortest format, are well documented and so the expectations back home have been tempered
WATCH the training sessions of South Africa and Team India, on Wednesday, the eve of the first ODI in Durban
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