'I definitely believe the kind of form he is in, the way he is batting, it will strengthen the Indian batting line-up.'
Vernon Philander bagged six wickets, for a match haul of ten, as South Africa wrapped up a nine-wicket victory that gives them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Neil McKenzie scored 94 and Hashim Amla was unbeaten on 85 as South Africa amassed 304 for 4 by the end of the first day in the first Test against India. India must be grateful to spinners Harbhajan (2 for 92) and Anil Kumble (2 for 61) for helping them fightback.
Pakistan to allow vaccinated spectators to attend NZ series.
India's status as the No 1 Test side in ICC rankings will remain intact irrespective of how the series against South Africa pans out, but the Proteas will join the visitors at the top if they win all the three matches.
Captain Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers led the chase as South Africa cut the deficit to 102 runs in their bid to haul in the West Indies total of 329 before rain ended the second day of the third Test at Newlands on Saturday.
At the close of the third day, West Indies were 96-4 in their second innings, a lead of just 18 over South Africa.
India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack in the first Test, starting in Kolkata on Friday.
Nitish Reddy released from India squad for India A one day series
Sarfaraz, Imad Wasim dropped from Pakistan white-ball squad vs Australia.
Realising that just two Tests in the next 11 months endanger India's stay at the top of ICC rankings, the BCCI has requested South Africa to play a couple of five-day games when they visit the country early next year.
A new-look Indian team, led by Shikhar Dhawan, will be hoping to make a statement and be in the reckoning for next year's 50-over World Cup when the three-match ODI series against South Africa begins in Lucknow on Thursday.
Australia were on Friday dethroned as the number one team in one-dayers by South Africa who demolished the hosts by 39 runs in the fifth and final match to clinch the ODI series with an emphatic 4-1 margin.
With three league games still to be played, the former champions would need outright victories in all their remaining fixtures to harbour any realistic chance of making it to the knockout stage.
South Africa beat New Zealand by four wickets an hour after tea on the third day to wrap up a 2-0 series win
South Africa remains one of the very few places where India have not won a Test series, and the Virat Kohli-led side is determined to end the wait this time around.
South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has resigned from his post just days before the Proteas leave for a tour of India. The 41-year-old has been in charge of the South Africa national team since May 2005 and his shock resignation on Tuesday means the Proteas have little time to find a replacement coach for the two-Test and three One-Day International tour.
India will tour South Africa for an all-format series in December-January, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said on Thursday. According to the itinerary announced by CSA, India is set to play three Test matches, as many ODIs and four T20Is during the tour.
Australia's defeat in the home series against South Africa helped them galvanise, opening batsman David Warner said on Wednesday ahead of the second Test against India.
Debutant paceman Kyle Abbott left Pakistan in tatters with seven first innings wickets as South Africa bowled out the tourists for 156 on the second day of the third Test at Centurion on Saturday.
They come in place of rested strike duo Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini for the second Test against Zimbabwe, starting at Centurion on Friday.
'The will to work and commitment to put in work is as high as it has ever been.'
The track is historically a high-scoring one and the outfield is quick. But on a red soil surface, the ball grips and can surprise the batters.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against India.
Faf du Plessis said, "Now we can trust the system a little bit more and just focus on playing cricket."
Dean Elgar's century and a quick-fire unbeaten 68 from Quinton de Kock lifted South Africa to 297 for six on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Newlands on Monday.
Ganguly lauded Gill's leadership during India's tour of England, noting the challenge of captaining at a young age in such conditions
Jacques Kallis defied England with another composed century to lift South Africa to 279 for six on the first day of the third Test on Sunday.
The pressure is likely to be on South Africa in the return series against Australia, said visiting captain Ricky Ponting when his squad flew in on Monday.
India stretched their lead to 311 runs against South Africa at the end of the second day of the first Test.
South Africa completed victory over Australia by an innings and 20 runs in the third Test at Newlands on Sunday, despite an entertaining maiden Test century from Mitchell Johnson.
India captain Virat Kohli blazed a magnificent century, but South Africa hold the upper hand as they reached 90 for two in their second innings on a difficult wicket after rain and then bad light curtailed day three of the second Test on Monday.
Graeme Smith accepted that his World No 1 squad were outplayed by a more dominant Pakistan in the 1st Test match in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
South Africa expect to have all-rounder JP Duminy and fast bowler Morne Morkel back for the second Test against India but will assess the fitness of leading paceman Dale Steyn on Thursday.
South Africa named uncapped left-arm spinner Paul Harris in their squad for the remaining two Tests against India.
South Africa bowled England out for 181 in their first innings and had built up a significant 175-run lead by the close of play on the second day of the first Test at Centurion Park on Friday. Images from Day 2 of the first Test between South Africa and England at Supersport Park in Centurion on Friday.
'We are fully focused on this series. Every series is important. Individually for these players, there's a lot at stake.'
The touring side reached 75-1 in their second innings at the close, a lead of 205, with Dean Elgar (38 not out) and Hashim Amla (23 not out) bringing some order to the final hour and ensuring their team are well-placed to force the victory that would level the four-match series at 1-1.
De Kock, who made 52 at Mohali, and Reeza Hendricks scored 76 for the opening stand to stub out India's hopes of early wickets and any chance of a fight.
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