The limited overs battle are done and dusted. India have been handed defeats in both the T20s and the ODIs by the upbeat South Africa and now it is time for some serious riveting Test action.
Virat Kohli & co. are very much aware of South Africa's incredible record away from home in the longest format of the game and the hosts would be desperate to bounce back in the forthcoming Test series against the Proteas. There's plenty more to what one will be expecting from this series.
Put on your seat belts fellas, as the Test series is also going to be one heck of a roller-coaster ride.
Here are five reasons why one should be excited for the clash between India and South Africa in the Tests:
1. The return of Ravichandran Ashwin: The man with the golden arm in the Indian team at this moment in any format of the game of cricket -- Ravichandran Ashwin. Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli would desperately want him back in his side to outclass the no.1 Test team in the world. Ashwin was outstanding against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka earlier this year. These Indian conditions and ranked turning wickets will make him even more dangerous.
2. Virat Kohli's first full-length Test series in India as captain: We learnt about the man with the golden arm and now let us look at the man with the golden willow. His statistics with the bat as the captain of the Indian Test team has been outstanding. He also lead this fairly young Indian brigade to a Test victory on the Sri Lankan soil. The fans would want him to put up a similar performance against South Africa in the upcoming Test series.
3. Ravindra Jadeja's comeback: After having an incredible Ranji season with the ball this year, the Saurashtra lad is all set to make a comeback into this Indian side. But it will still depend on the captain and the coach Ravi Shastri whether they would want to play five or four bowlers. Jadeja has notched up 37 wickets in three games just before getting called up for the India Test squad for the South Africa series. One would re-live the memories of the Australia drubbing in 2013, when Jadeja ran through the Australian batting order in almost all the Test matches in that series along with Ashwin.
4. AB de Villiers: The name itself says it all! Do we need to know more about cricket's 'Mr. 360 degree'? He has already hit three centuries in the tour and will be hungry for more. The only weakness that Kohli & co. would look to exploit will be spin. It is evident with the way De Villiers handles the spin bowling. He tends to step out and turn down the spin and that is exactly where Ashwin, Jadeja and Amit Mishra can be effective on the Indian soil. However, undoubtedly sending De Villiers back to the pavilion in no time will be a tough challenge for the Indian bowlers.
5. Dale Steyn - the ultimate fusion of swing and pace: This Proteas speedster is the most successful fast bowler on the Indian soil. The last time when he had toured India, he added 26 scalps in five Test matches, which included two match-winning performances. Whenever there will be a tinge of grass on the deck, his eyes are surely going to light up. But it will be interesting to see how effective he will be in these sub-continental conditions during the upcoming four-match Test series.
