Kochi: The Indian cricket team has decided to take on South Africa in the three-Test series without playing a single practice match. Cricket South Africa issued a press release that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has canceled the two-day warm-up game and instead the Indian team will be utilizing the time for having nets session.
Meanwhile, the Indian team management has picked young pacers Basil Thampi, Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini as net bowlers for the South African series.
Kerala pacer Basil and Siraj are part of the Indian team for the forthcoming three-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka which begins on December 20.
The first Test against South Africa commences in Cape Town on January 5.
The series presents the biggest challenge in recent times for Virat Kohli's men who are ranked number one in the ICC Test rankings. India have never won a series on South African soil, with the best performance being a 1-1 result in 2010-11 under M S Dhoni. The Indians have won only two Tests in South Africa.
Indian batsmen have struggled against the Sri Lankan seamers on helpful tracks in the ongoing series.
South Africa have a fearsome pace quartet in Kagiso Rabada, a fit-again Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander.
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