Captain Virat Kohli has plenty of justification for his belief that India can achieve a first-of-its-kind series win in South Africa. As India prepares to face the hosts in the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium today, Kohli expressed the team's excitement and fondness for the venue. This optimism is backed by a flawless record: India has remained undefeated at this premier stadium throughout their history.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli has every reason to be confident that his men can clinch a historic Test series win in the Rainbow nation. Today, India takes on the hosts in the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium. Earlier, Kohli said that it is a ground where Indian players love playing and his team is looking forward to it. Team India’s previous records bear out Kohli’s optimism. India remains unbeaten in a Test match at South Africa’s premier cricket ground.
Since first touring in 1992-93, India has secured two wins and three draws in Johannesburg, proving they can handle the conditions. In the past, the Wanderers' reputation as a paradise for fast bowlers often worked against them, but today's Indian side is equipped with an elite bowling attack capable of competing with the best.
Looking back at the 2013-14 series, Kohli was in peak form, contributing a brilliant 119 and 96 to help his team post a daunting 458 runs in a draw. Now, the key for him will be choosing his shots wisely to convert early momentum into massive scores. Given their dominant performance across all departments at Centurion, India is in a prime position to clinch the series early.
Even though the South African fast bowlers showed great resilience, India's batting lineup stepped up to post a competitive score. If the middle order remains steady, India should be nearly unstoppable at the Wanderers. Meanwhile, the South African batting looks fragile against India's disciplined bowling; specifically, captain Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram have struggled to build a partnership longer than two overs in their last three outings.