South Africa vs India: India trained on New Year’s Day at the Newlands in Centurion. Making full use of the center-wicket practice, former captain Virat Kohli was in full tilt, playing aggressive shots against the bowlers. India and South Africa will meet in the 2nd Test from January 3.
India seem to be leaving no stone unturned to stage a fightback in the second and final Test of their series against South Africa, starting January 3 in Cape Town. The Test regulars attended an optional training session at the Newlands on New Year’s Day. India arrived in Cape Town on New Year’s eve, flying down from Centurion where they played the Boxing Day Test.
India have been putting in the hard yards in the lead up to the New Year’s Test after the humbling in the series opener at SuperSport Park. India were handed an innings and 32-run defeat after one of their most timid performances in a Test match in the recent past.
India had an optional training session on December 30 at the SuperSport Park as they made use of the extra day at their disposal due to the early end to the first Test. India folded inside 3 days in Centurion, managing just 245 and 131 across two innings. KL Rahul’s well-paced 101 in the first innings and Virat Kohli’s solid 76 in the second went in vain as none of the other batters stepped up.
While Virat Kohli did not take part in the optional training session in Centurion, he was seen leading the team’s drills and net session in Cape Town on New Year’s Day. Kohli looked pumped up for the new challenges in 2024, getting into the stride without wasting time ahead of the 2nd Test.
Head coach Rahul Dravid oversaw the preparations as India had a center-wicket training in Newlands. Captain Rohit Sharma, Raivndra Jadeja and young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal did not take part in the training session on January 1. The three players were part of the optional session in Centurion on December 30. Shardul Thakur suffered an injury scare in Centurion but he is reportedly fit for the 2nd Test.
Virat Kohli at nets. Lofts Ashwin for a Six.#IndianCricketTeam #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/W9MkUGMvwB
— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) January 1, 2024
Avesh Khan, who shone for India A in their unofficial Test against South Africa A, also joined the team on Monday after he was drafted into the squad as Mohammed Shami’s replacement.
In a video shared by PTI news agency journalist Kushan Sarkar, Virat Kohli was seen batting aggressively in the nets. The star batter did not hold back as he lofted off-spinner R Ashwin over his head after dancing down the track. Kohli was also seen facing a local net bowler, a left-arm pacer, as the focus has been on helping the Indian batters get used to a left-arm fast-bowling threat.
India were troubled by debutant Nandre Burger as he picked up 7 wickets across the two innings in Centurion. Marco Jansen also troubled the Indian batters with his pace and bounce at the SuperSport Park.
India are expected to have another training session on the eve of the 2nd Test.
The visitors’ track record in Cape Town doesn’t inspire confidence as they have never won at the Newlands. In 6 Tests, India have lost four, including the Tests in their trips to South Africa in 2018 and 2022.
