Following India’s 3-0 win in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs) over South Africa, the ongoing multi-format series moves to its second leg with the one-off Test scheduled from the 28th of June to the 1st of July 2024. The red-ball Test will be played at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, and has a start time of 9:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST) for all four days.
India has played a total of 40 Tests to date, excluding the one abandoned Test, with a record of 7 wins, 6 losses, and 27 draws. On the other hand, South Africa has played 14 Tests, winning just one in 2007, while drawing 7 and losing 6. Head-to-head, the two teams have played a couple of Tests, one on each soil, with India securing commanding wins on both occasions, making them favorites to extend their winning streak.
Since India won the home Test against South Africa in 2014, they have drawn both their away Tests in 2022 against England and Australia, and in December 2023, they registered commanding wins against the same opponents in home Tests. Meanwhile, South Africa has played a couple of Tests in the same duration, drawing the 2022 England Test and losing to Australia earlier this year, both away games.
Squads:
India – Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Shubha Satheesh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Saika Ishaque, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, Priya Punia, Shabnam Shakil
South Africa – Laura Wolvaardt (C), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine De Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke De Ridder, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Delmi Tucker
Players to watch out:
Smriti Mandhana
The 27-year-old opening batter, from 11 Test innings, has accumulated 480 runs and registered her only Test ton, scoring 127 against Australia in 2021. In her previous Test matches in December 2023, while she departed cheaply for 17 and 26 against England, she notched up scores of 74 and 38* against Australia. In the lead-up to the Chennai Test, she registered scores of 117, 136, and 90 in the ODIs, and given her form, she can be counted on to lead the scoring.
Deepti Sharma
The 26-year-old all-rounder in Tests, from 7 outings, has posted 317 runs and taken 16 wickets from 6 bowling innings, at an economy rate of 2.25, with best figures of 78 and 9/39. In the ’23-24 domestic red-ball competition, Deepti scalped 27 wickets from 6 innings, maintaining an economy rate of 2.09, and also added 159 runs to her tally. In the ODI series, she excelled with both bat and ball and can be relied upon for an all-round effort in this one-off Test.
Laura Wolvaardt
The 25-year-old opening batter, from 98 ODIs, has amassed 4148 runs, including the highest score of 184*, averaging 49.38. In Tests, Laura hasn’t had much success yet, departing for twin scores of 16 against England and 4 and 8 against Australia. However, she is a patient and technically minded batter, and with form on her side, having scored 184*, 4, 135*, and 61 in her previous 4 ODIs, the team will bank on their best batter to replicate this success in red-ball cricket.
Marizanne Kapp
The 34-year-old all-rounder made her Test debut in the 2014 Mysore Test, departing for a duck in her first innings but managing 19 runs in the second innings. However, in her most recent Test, in 2022 against England, she registered scores of 150 and 43*. Marizanne, in ODIs, has scored over 3000 runs and taken over 150 wickets. While she hasn’t bowled in this series, she scored a century in the 2nd ODI. Her contributions will be vital to the team’s performance.
Pitch:
The 22-yard center strip at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium has traditionally been favorable for both batters and bowlers. While the conditions will be conducive for batting, batters will need to grind out for their runs, especially later in the game. However, bowlers, especially spinners, will certainly have the upper hand on this track.
Weather:
Chennai promises ideal conditions with the temperature forecasted to hover in the mid-30s (°C). While there is no rain on the radar for the first two days of the Test, days 3 and 4 might see rain interruptions, but only late in the day’s play if the skies don’t clear.
Fantasy playing XI:
Richa Ghosh, Laura Wolvaardt, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shubha Satheesh, Marizanne Kapp, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Nonkululeko Mlaba
Match details:
Date – June 28 – July 01, 2024
Time – 9:30 AM IST
Venue – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the JioCinema app and website and broadcast on Sports18.
