Despite the Wanderers' reputation as a fast bowler's paradise, India has routinely fared well in Johannesburg.
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When India takes on South Africa in the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Monday, skipper Virat Kohli has every reason to believe his team can complete a historic Test series victory. “It’s a ground we all love playing on, and we’re looking forward to it,” Kohli said after India defeated South Africa by 113 runs in the first Test at Centurion on Thursday. Kohli’s belief is backed up by the numbers. Since their first visit of South Africa in 1992/93, India has yet to lose a Test match at the country’s premier cricket arena, with a record of two wins and three draws.
Despite the Wanderers’ reputation as a fast bowler’s paradise – which should have put India at a disadvantage on some of their prior travels before the advent of their current formidable pace attack – India has routinely fared well in Johannesburg. For several of the Indian tour group, the land evokes very fond recollections.
Getting Test-match ready at The Wanderers ? ?#TeamIndia | #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/f3WTqSIIKX
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 1, 2022
In a tied match in 1996/97, new coach Rahul Dravid scored his first Test century, and 10 years later, he captained India to their first Test victory in South Africa. In a high-scoring tie in 2013/14, Kohli gave a batting masterpiece, scoring 119 and 96 runs to help India set the hosts a seemingly insurmountable target of 458 runs to win.
On a pitch that was halted at one point due to dangerous circumstances, Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane all scored significant runs, while Mohammed Shami, one of the heroes of the Centurion victory, grabbed five for 28 in the second innings.
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India still has to win the series in South Africa, where they have the chance to complete a historic victory with one match to spare. At Centurion, India dominated in every department, though South Africa’s fast bowlers bounced back after a bad first day. Against a disciplined Indian bowling assault, the home side’s batting was insufficient. It is unlikely that the visitors will make any changes to the winning combination.
In the absence of Quinton de Kock, the middle order looks vulnerable, and South Africa’s opening batsmen, skipper Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram, have failed to remain together past the second over of an innings in their last three Tests.
The magnitude of the defeat in the first Test has caused various issues for the home team. Elgar hinted at a batting order adjustment, and there are various possibilities that will be examined. De Kock’s successor as a wicketkeeper-batter is expected to be Kyle Verreynne, although South Africa will consider adding another specialist batsman to replace all-rounder Wiaan Mulder.
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