India vs South Africa 2019-20 1st Test statistical preview: Milestones await Ashwin, Jadeja, Maharaj

India will host the first Test of the three-match series against South Africa, at YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam on October 2. This is also India’s first home Test of 2019. Ahead of the match, here is a statistical preview.

Statistical preview

0 cricketers from Andhra has played a Test in Visakhapatnam, the only Test venue in the state. Hanuma Vihari has a chance to become the first.

0.733 India’s win-loss ratio against South Africa (11 wins, 15 defeats), their worst against any country since South Africa’s readmission to Test cricket. Only against England have India won fewer matches (15) than lost (16) over the same period.

1 Test for India at Visakhapatnam, back in 2016-17 against England. India had won the Test by 246 runs.

1 uncapped player in the Indian squad – Shubman Gill. He may become the 296th cricketer to play Test cricket for India.

2 wickets needed by Ravindra Jadeja (198) to become the 10th Indian and 75th overall to take 200 Test wickets.

3 uncapped players in the South African squad – Heinrich Klaasen, Senuran Muthusamy, and Anrich Nortje. They may add to the list of 336 South African Test caps. Of them, Muthuswamy has not played any international cricket.

4 five-wicket hauls for R Ashwin against South Africa, the joint most among Indians. Javagal Srinath and Harbhajan Singh also have 4 each, while Ravindra Jadeja has 3.

5 ducks for Ishant Sharma against South Africa, the joint most among Indians. Zaheer Khan also has 5.

6 wickets needed by Keshav Maharaj (94) to become the 17th South African and 191st overall to take 100 Test wickets.

7 Tests for Virat Kohli as captain against South Africa. Only Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni have led them in more Tests (8), which means Kohli has a chance to draw level with them at Visakhapatnam.

8 wickets needed by Ashwin (342) to become the 4th Indian and 25th overall to take 350 Test wickets.

10 consecutive home series wins for India. This includes 2 against each of Australia and West Indies, and 1 against South Africa, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. Over this period India have won 23 Tests, drawn 5, and lost 1.

48 Tests for Kohli as captain. He should draw level with Sourav Ganguly (49) at Visakhapatnam. Only Dhoni (60) has led India in more Tests.

66 Tests needed by Muttiah Muralitharan to reach 350 Test wickets, the fewest. Ashwin, who has 342 from 65, has a chance to become the joint-fastest.

353 days since India have played a Test at home. Their last Test, against West Indies at Hyderabad, had ended on October 14 last year. However, Afghanistan played a Test against Ireland at Dehradun in March.