SA vs Ind, 1st Test: Unit Tests over, Exams arrive for Virat and Co.

Cape Town: After passing the unit tests with good grades, the exams have arrived for Virat Kohli and company. The examinations which India never passed; captains came with confidence but always failed to break the jinx.

Captain Virat Kohli is another such name who will be hoping to continue the winning streak his team has maintained since 2015, winning nine consecutive Test series.

After dismantling Australian and Sri Lanka at home, India will be duly tested in overseas conditions when it will aim to overcome a formidable South Africa in the first of three match series at the Newlands here on Friday.

India maintained its Test series winning streak since defeating Sri Lanka 2-1 in their away series. The top ranked side in the longest format had also defeated South Africa on their home turf in the 2015-16 Freedom Trophy series.

India, however, has not won against the Proteas on South African soil since 1992 -- losing four and drawing one in 2010-11.

India will bank on their premier batsmen -- Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli -- who ended 2017 as the second and fourth highest run-scorers in the longest format respectively in the calendar year to help their side maintain its top Test status.

Also read: SA vs Ind: I want to play my best against S. Africa, says Vijay

Key Indian batsmen Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay and Lokesh Rahul will only look to add depth to the batting department.

Skipper Kohli might opt to play an extra batsman in form of Rohit Sharma in place of Ravindra Jadeja, who is down with flu.

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah -- who received his maiden call up in Test squad alongside Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Kumar will be tested against the fearsome South African batting on the green-top wicket.

Second ranked Test side South Africa, on the other hand will look to flourish on its home conditions under the likes of batsmen Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis.

The well set-up bowling department will be led by pacer Kagiso Rabada, who ranks second in the Test bowlers list. Right-armer Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander who will target to dismiss the visitors right from the start of the match.

Squads:

India: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv Patel, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Lokesh Rahul.

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis(captain), Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Chris Morris, Vernon Philander, Theunis de Bruyn.