Indian cricket fans are in for a special treat as the complete itinerary for South Africa's tour of India have been announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) jointly on Monday.
A total of three T20s, five ODIs and four Test matches will be played during the two-month-long tour. Prior to the first T20 match against India in Dharamsala, South Africa will play a preparatory T20 match in Delhi on 29 September.
What makes it even more interesting is the fact that the Proteas will be in India for 72 days and the two giants of world cricket will come face-to-face for a four-match Test series, which could prove to be a perfect ambassador for the longer format of the game.
The four Test matches are going to be played in November and December at Mohali, Bengaluru, Nagpur and Delhi.
The five ODIs will be held at Kanpur, Indore, Rajkot, Chennai and Mumbai, while the three T20 matches are to be played at Dharamsala, Cuttack and Kolkata.
"I am delighted to confirm, together with the BCCI, the Proteas' itinerary for our tour of India later this year," said CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat confirming the tour.
"This will be the longest tour that we have undertaken to India and the first time we will play a four-Test series. Both countries are now working to develop this into an icon series. Another first is that we will be playing our first T20 International match against India in India," he said.
The Test series is going to be a special one for batsman AB de Villiers, who is expected to play his historic 100th Test match in Bengaluru as he has played 98 matches so far.
"Of note will be the second Test match to be played in Bangalore where South Africa previously secured our only ever Test Series win over India in India in 2000. If all works out this will be AB de Villiers' 100th Test match and it could not be a more appropriate venue as it has become AB's second home through his involvement with the Royal Challengers Bangalore," added Lorgat.
Complete Schedule
T20 Series
2 October - 1st T20 International, Dharamshala
5 October - 2nd T20 International, Cuttack
8 October - 3rd T20 International, Kolkata
ODI series
11 October - 1st ODI, Kanpur (9am IST)
14 October - 2nd ODI, Indore (1:30pm IST)
18 October - 3rd ODI, Rajkot (1:30pm IST)
22 October - 4th ODI, Chennai (1:30pm IST)
25 October - 5th ODI, Mumbai (1:30pm IST)
Test Series
5- 9 November - 1st Test match, Mohali (9:30am IST)
14-18 November - 2nd Test match, Bangalore (9:30am IST)
25-29 November - 3rd Test match, Nagpur (9:30am IST)
3- 7 December - 4th Test match, Delhi (9:30am IST)
