World No 1 India may feel they have never had a better chance of winning their first ever Test series in South Africa.
Captain Faf du Plessis led from the front with a hard-earned century to give South Africa a commanding 205-run advantage at the end of the second day of the second Test against Pakistan, at Newlands, on Friday.
South African batter Rassie van der Dussen was satisfied that he could execute his sweep shots to perfection as the Indian spinners were unsettled during the home team's 31-run win over visitors in the first ODI in Paarl on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma closes in on Babar Azam at the top of the ODI rankings for batters
IMAGES from Day 3 of the opening Test, played between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday.
South Africa look to balance last of their World Cup preparations
'As a South African team, we know we're going to have that chip on our back, or that narrative that we have to get over'
Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 199 runs with more than a day to spare in the second and final Test to complete a 2-0 series sweep at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Monday.
South Africa finished their engagements with five points from as many games.
Star batter Virat Kohli was covering the swing well although he played and missed often until one ball moved away late to send him back to the dressing room, a pleased as punch Kagiso Rabada said after getting his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Alick Athanaze fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test century but still did enough to help ensure a draw in the first Test against South Africa.
Marnus Labuschagne came on as a concussion substitute to steer Australia to a three-wicket win over South Africa in a One-Day International on Thursday.
England have been largely rusty and inconsistent despite having a dangerous squad on paper.
Comeback man Heinrich Klaasen followed Rassie Van der Dussen's suit in turning out to be an unlikely hero with a career-best 81 as South Africa once again outwitted India by four wickets on a tricky pitch to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
South Africa captain Bavuma happy to discuss Miller role in T20 side
However, South Africa have lot of openers stacked on top (Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks) with a light middle order which is still a huge concern.
Australia will be without their premier pacers but their envious pedigree in ICC tournaments make them favourites to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy from Group B.
Rishabh Pant broke Mahendra Singh Dhoni's record to become the fastest Indian wicketkeeper to reach 100 dismissals, during the first Test against South Africa in Centurion on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between South Africa and Sri Lanka in New Delhi on Saturday.
Rob Walter said it would be "fitting" for the tournament's 'best' team, India to win the coveted trophy on Sunday.
Captain Quinton de Kock smashed a sparkling century as South Africa eased to a seven-wicket victory over World champions England in the opening One-Day International, at Newlands, on Tuesday.
Markram ton and spin twins see South Africa to ODI win over Australia
Australia's new Twenty20 International captain Mitch Marsh scored a second successive unbeaten half century to lead his side to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over hosts South Africa on Friday and claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Images from the T20 world Cup Super 12 match between Bangladesh and South Africa in Sydney on Thursday.
IMAGES from the 4th T20I between India and South Africa played in Rajkot on Friday.
The board said no replacement will be brought in for Rabada as there is an extended squad in place in the Bio-Secure Environment (BSE), but George Linde has been retained from the Test team as an extra spin-bowling option for the series.
Also included is fast bowler Anrich Nortje, but in-form opening batsman Temba Bavuma will have to prove his fitness after injuring his hamstring against England on Sunday.
Former South Africa skipper Bacher Ali believes that young black players cannot make it to the country's cricket if they continue to stay in the township culture.
South Africa's pace duo Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala have been ruled out of the World Cup because of injuries, Cricket South Africa confirmed on Thursday.
For the golden generation of Indian cricketers, this is their last chance to conquest what no other team could on eight previous tours.
'His experience is immense. In our batting chat today (Friday), we basically listened to him. He gave the batting chat as to what the conditions are like, what to expect.'
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji list the 50 Most Valuable Players in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Losing the toss three straight times in India has frustrated Faf du Plessis so much that South Africa's embattled Test captain has suggested doing away with the rule in the five-day format.
Skipper Temba Bavuma has been woefully out of form since his return from injury and also missed the last two ODI due to illness.
India, missing their top players, aim to punch above their weight and seal a memorable series victory against South Africa in the third and final ODI in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Aiden Markram said South Africa are taking nothing for granted despite beating India on Sunday to put themselves in the driving seat for qualification for the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals.
South Africa lost Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock among several experienced batters in recent years, leaving Elgar and Temba Bavuma to shoulder a heavy burden.
The most interesting aspect of the contest is the form of batters from both sides which has been the reason of their success so far.
India captain K L Rahul attributed the 0-3 drubbing from South Africa in the ODI series to collective failure and said there is no shying away from the fact that the visitors have "gone wrong".
South Africa have been fined 20 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against India in the second ODI in Paarl, the ICC said on Saturday.
