4 Indians who made an impressive Test debut against South Africa

India and South Africa are currently preparing for the three-Test series that begins in Visakhapatnam from 2 October. This will be followed by the second Test in Pune from 10 October and the third Test in Ranchi from 19 October.

India and South Africa have so far played each other in 36 Tests (from 1992 to 2018). The Proteas are slightly ahead in the head-to-head race, with 15 wins, while India have 11. Further, in 16 matches played at home, India have won 8 and lost 5, with three matches ending in a draw.

Their away record is very poor. Team India have played 20 matches in South Africa, out of which they have won only three and lost as many as 10, while seven matches have ended in a stalemate.

Over the years, a number of Indians have made their Test debut against South Africa, and a few of them have produced memorable performances.

As India get set to lock horns with the Proteas yet again, we take a look back at four impressive performances by Indians on Test debut against South Africa.

#4 Pravin Amre

Pravin Amre

Pravin Amre, another protégé of renowned coach Ramakant Achrekar, made a famous debut at Durban - renowned as one of the quickest pitches in the world - during the first Test (November 13-17) of India’s tour in 1992.

South Africa batted first and posted 254 on the board, courtesy skipper Kepler Wessels’ 118. For India, Kapil Dev claimed four wickets while Manoj Prabhakar, Anil Kumble and Ravi Shastri chipped in with two wickets each.

In response, India soon found themselves in big trouble at 38 for 4 and were in danger of being bowled out cheaply. But Amre, coming in at number six, then played what is considered one of the finest innings by an Indian away from home.

Standing up to an attack comprising Allan Donald, Brett Schultz and Brian McMillan, Amre hit 103 from 299 balls, a knock which featured 11 hits to the fence. By the time he was dismissed, India were only seven short of South Africa’s total.

Amre was declared man of the match in the drawn Test.

Also see - India vs South Africa schedule 2019

#3 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman

Although VVS Laxman came into prominence only after scoring 167 at Sydney during the 2000 Test, he had a significant role to play in an Indian win on his debut Test played at Ahmedabad from November 20-23, 1996.

The Test is remembered for pacer Javagal Srinath’s stupendous spell of 6 for 21 in 11.5 overs, on a surface that was supposed to assist spin, which bowled India to a famous win by 64 runs. But before’s Srinath’s magnificent effort it was Laxman’s innings that ensured India had something to bowl at.

After India and South Africa scored 223 and 244 respectively in their first innings, the Test turned into a second innings tussle. India crumbled to 123 for 6 under Donald’s fiery spell, but Laxman held one end up and made a composed 51 from 125 balls, before being trapped lbw by Paul Adams. It was a sign of things to come from Laxman’s bat in the future.

Laxman was aided by Anil Kumble, who made an unbeaten 30. In the end, the target of 170 proved well beyond South Africa’s reach.

#2 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag

The swashbuckling batsman’s game was perfectly suited to the shorter formats. It remains one of cricket’s greatest mysteries that he ended up with a far superior record in Tests.

It all began in Bloemfontein during the first Test of India’s tour of South Africa in 2001, played from November 3-6. India were batting first and after the usual dodgy start, being reduced to 68 for 4, Bloemfontein witnessed the master and pupil show.

It was no secret that Virender Sehwag had modeled his game on Sachin Tendulkar. The duo featured in a dazzling partnership that entertained the crowd no end, in the process of which Sehwag registered a brilliant debut hundred.

Tendulkar and Sehwag lifted India to 288 for 5, with the latter departing after making a memorable 105 from 173 balls - including 19 hits to the fence. Tendulkar himself scored 155.

However, hundreds from Herschelle Gibbs and Lance Klusener and a 10-wicket match haul from skipper Shaun Pollock eased South Africa to a comprehensive 9-wicket triumph.

#1 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah

Initially considered a limited-overs specialist, Jasprit Bumrah was drafted into the Test side for the tour of South Africa in early 2018 after some impressive performances in ODIs and T20s. He made an instant impact in the longer format as well.

Bumrah made his debut in the Cape Town Test played from January 5-8, 2018. He picked up only one wicket in his first Test innings, conceding 73 runs in 19 overs. The scalp though was the big one of AB de Villiers, whom he bowled for 65.

It was in the second innings that Bumrah came into his own, with figures of 3 for 39 in 11.2 overs. He claimed the big wickets of South African captain Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and, for the second time in the game, that of De Villiers, who was last man out for 35.

Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s three-fors rolled South Africa over for 130. However, the batsmen failed to chase down 208 as Vernon Philander’s 6 for 42 saw India crumble to 135 all out.