Aiming to engrave their name on the cricketing history books, team India has embarked on a tour of South Africa, consisting of three Test matches and three ODIs. Notably, India has never won a red-ball series in the Rainbow Nation, with the recent loss coming in 2018, where they lost 2-1.
However, the time has changed since then as India has defeated Australia in Australia on multiple occasions, while they are also leading in the series against England. Still, a few cricket pundits are not giving Virat Kohli and Co. any chance of winning the Test series against South Africa. Aakash Chopra, being one of them, has predicted that India may draw the series but would not be able to win it.
Aakash Chopra’s prediction on India vs South Africa Test series
“I don’t see India winning this right now, I mean it is difficult. I would have said 2-1 for South Africa if Nortje was playing. Nortje is not there; I am saying this series can again end at 1-1. There is a chance of a drawn Test match, the first Test could be in slight trouble because of rain,” Aakash was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
Chopra opined that the series may end 1-1 with the first match having the possibility of being a draw due to rain. However, the cricketer-turned-commentator stated that if a team would come out of the series with the trophy, it would be South Africa.
“It is going to be interesting but I feel this might be a drawn series. 51% South Africa, 49% India. That’s what I am thinking at this point in time. If any team wins, I feel that will be South Africa.
Commenting on South Africa’s recent performance, Chopra added that they are in a transition phase and their T20 World Cup campaign showed that they have the players to take the team forward.
“It is not that South Africa’s team is flying high. I think they are starting to regroup really well. The World Cup has shown that they have the players, where the things are falling in place but it is still a team in transition,” he mentioned.
Further, Chopra explained India’s problems and believed that the players are going through a period of inconsistency. For them to beat South Africa, they must play to their potential.
“It is not a transition for our team. Our team’s problem is the form and a little bit about availability because Pujara, Kohli and Rahane – these three are there in the middle, Rahul at the top, Pant as a keeper. All this is there but we have the issue of consistency. If we play to our potential, the Indian team’s chances become quite bright.” Chopra concluded.