First India-South Africa Test to be on batting-friendly Centurion

India’s Test collection in South Africa will begin on the Centurion on Boxing Day, Cricket South Africa has confirmed.
As per the revised itinerary, India will play three Tests and as many ODIs throughout their tour of South Africa, whereas the T20Is have been postponed following the unfold of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Johannesburg and Cape Town will host the second and third Test respectively, and the ODIs shall be performed at Paarl and Cape Town.
“It is a pleasure for Cricket South Africa (CSA) to confirm the updated schedule for the India men’s tour to South Africa. As announced over the weekend, the tour has been reduced from three series to two: the Test and One-Day International series, taking place from 26 December to 23 January 2022 across four venues, following successful engagement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),” CSA said in a press launch, including: “The four-match T20 international series will be rescheduled for a more opportune time in the new year.”

UPDATED SCHEDULE 🚨
The dates for the upcoming #SAvIND tour have been revised. The tour has been diminished to three️⃣ Betway Tests and three️⃣ Betway ODIs
Full checklist of fixtures ➡️ https://t.co/ZCJDr7nsXL#BetwayTestSeries #BetwayODISeries #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/KWrZ0GuUzB
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 6, 2021
The authentic schedule had three Tests, three ODIs and 4 T20Is, and the primary Test was to begin at Johannesburg from December 17. Now the India group will depart for South Africa subsequent week and upon reaching the nation, the squad members must bear a five-day quarantine.
The revised itinerary may work to India’s benefit, for the SuperSport Park at Centurion often helps the batsmen. The final Test on the venue, in December 2020, was a high-scoring affair as nicely, with Sri Lanka posting 396 of their first innings and the hosts responding with 621 to win the sport by an innings and 45 runs.
In 2018, nevertheless, India had misplaced the Centurion Test by 135 runs after folding up for 151 of their second innings. As Virat Kohli mentioned after the second Test towards New Zealand on Monday, the collection in South Africa three years in the past was the approaching of age second for this group when it comes to buying a successful mentality in abroad excursions. India’s win within the third Test at Johannesburg proved to be the catalyst.
“It’s a good challenge in South Africa; that was the start of our perseverance to build abroad. Australia was an accumulation of those efforts. We have the belief we can win anywhere. It’s a tough challenge, something we want to achieve, everyone is motivated,” Kohli mentioned on the post-match presentation right now.
The up to date schedule:
December 26-30: 1st Test; SuperSport Park, Centurion
January 3-7: 2nd Test; Wanderers, Johannesburg
January 11-15: third Test; Newlands, Cape Town
January 19: 1st ODI; Boland Park, Paarl
January 21: 2nd ODI; Boland Park, Paarl
January 23: third ODI; Newlands, Cape Town