South Africa face-off is going to be a litmus test for both India and Virat Kohli. After establishing themselves as the No. 1 ranked Test side with many home series wins, the two-month long SA tour is seen as a big challenge for Team India outside the friendly subcontinent atmosphere. The onus is on India’s marvellous captain, Virat Kohli and his boys to script history i.e. beat South Africa in South Africa. Apart from leading the side, the tour will challenge the 29-year-old as a batsman. Virat in his illustrious career has hit just one Test century against South Africa. It came in previous tour 2013-14 when Kohli smashed 119 to help the visitors draw the Johannesburg test match.

Kohli has twenty hundreds in his test cricket career. He has plundered several long innings against Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Surprisingly, South Africa remains the only best test side against whom Kohli has managed just one century. It was during India’s last tour to South Africa playing at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

The young batsman hit a crucial century in the first innings of the first Test of the two-match series. Kohli played a fast-paced knock of 119 in 181 deliveries as wickets at the other end. India’s batting machine showed its true class and temperament facing the likes of Dale Steyn, Morné Morkel, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir. He continued with his red-hot form in the second innings as well scoring a fantastic 96 runs off 193 deliveries. Kohli helped India draw the first match, eventually losing the test series 1-0. The Delhi batsman was adjudged Player of the Match for his fine performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=viAi9iEPy9o

Virat Kohli is the lynchpin of the Indian batting side. The cricket pundits have put their money on the Indian skipper to make the difference in visitor’s results. South Africa tours has always been a nightmare for India. Starting in 1992, the Indian cricket team has had seven tours to the African nation including the current trip. Their best results came during tour of 2010–11 with 3-match series drawn 1-1. India had registered their first Test victory in Proteas land. They won the second Test played at Kingsmead in Durban courtesy Man of the Match, VVS Laxman’s brilliant show with the bat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2018 06:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).