5 memorable batting performances by Team India players in South Africa 

Having easily overcome New Zealand at home, Team India's next assignment will be a tough tour of South Africa, featuring three Tests and as many ODIs. The three-match Test series will begin with the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

According to reports, the Indian team will undergo a three-day quarantine at a five-star hotel near the Mumbai International Airport before flying off to the Rainbow Nation. The South Africa-bound squad will leave for Johannesburg on Wednesday, December 16 by a charter flight.

India have so far featured in 20 Tests in South Africa, winning only three and losing 10. Seven of the matches have ended in a draw. During their previous tour in 2017-18, India went down 2-1 in a three-match Test series.

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When India’s batters impressed in South Africa

While India might not enjoy a great record in Tests in South Africa, a number of batters from the team have come up with memorable performances over the years. We look back at five such wonderful efforts.

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#5 169 by Sachin Tendulkar - Cape Town (January 1997)

Sachin Tendulkar batting during a Test match in South Africa. Pic: Getty Images

Leading the Indian team, Sachin Tendulkar scored a combative 169 in the Cape Town of 1997. The knock came under extremely trying circumstances. After South Africa put up 529 for 7 declared batting first, on the back of hundreds from Gary Kirsten, Brian McMillan and Lance Klusener, India lost half their side for 58.

Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin (115 off 110) then featured in an iconic sixth-wicket stand of 222. While Azhar went berserk, Tendulkar occupied the crease for 329 minutes and kept the Proteas bowlers at bay. Tendulkar slammed 26 fours in his 254-ball knock as India recovered commendably to post 359.

Tendulkar’s fine innings, however, went in vain as India were bowled out for 144 in their second innings, chasing a huge target of 427.

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#4 148 & 81 by Rahul Dravid - Johannesburg (January 1997)

Rahul Dravid scored his maiden Test hundred in South Africa. Pic: Getty Images

Team India’s current head coach Rahul Dravid registered his maiden Test ton in Johannesburg during the 1996-97 tour. India batted first after winning the toss in the third Test of the series, with Dravid top-scoring with 148. The no.3 batter held his own against a South African bowling attack comprising Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Brian McMillan.

Dravid held fort for 541 minutes and faced 362 deliveries during which he hit 21 fours. He and Sourav Ganguly (73) featured in a fourth-wicket stand of 145. Dravid also got good support from his Karnataka mates Anil Kumble (29) and Javagal Srinath (41). The centurion was the last man to be dismissed as India ended their first innings on 410.

Dravid top-scored in the second innings as well with 81 as India set South Africa a target of 356. The hosts crumbled to 95 for 7. However, a brilliant 122 not out by Daryll Cullinan defied India’s bowlers as South Africa escaped with a draw.

#3 153 by Cheteshwar Pujara - Johannesburg (December 2013)

Cheteshwar Pujara in action during the 2013 Johannesburg Test. Pic: Getty Images

Cheteshwar Pujara played one of his finest Test knocks in South Africa, scoring 153 during India’s second innings of the Johannesburg Test in December 2013. India and South Africa's first-innings performances were pretty much nullified as the Proteas responded with 244 to the visitors’ 280.

Pujara defied a strong South African attack comprising Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, Jacques Kallis and Imran Tahir. The no.3 batter faced 270 balls and batted for 353 minutes during his dogged knock, which included 21 fours. Pujara and Kohli (96), who had contributed a hundred in the first innings, featured in a 222-run third-wicket stand.

India ended their second innings on 421 and set South Africa a mammoth 458 for victory. Centuries from Faf du Plessis (134) and AB de Villiers (103) gave India a massive scare. In the end, the visitors escaped with a draw as South Africa scored 450 for 7.

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#2 119 & 96 by Virat Kohli - Johannesburg (December 2013)

Virat Kohli celebrates his hundred during the 2013 Johannesburg Test. Pic: Getty Images

Virat Kohli narrowly missed out on scoring a century in each innings during the Johannesburg Test in 2013. At the peak of his batting powers, Kohli top-scored with an aggressive 119 off 181 balls as India batted first. Kohli struck 18 fours during his 257-minute stay, but lack of support from the other batters meant India could only put up 280 on the board.

After Zaheer Khan (4/88) and Ishant Sharma (4/79) helped India restrict the visitors to 244, Kohli was in his element again during the second innings. This time, he found an able ally in Pujara (153). The no.4 batter joined Pujara with the score reading 93 for 2 and was the fifth batter to get out with the total on 327. Kohli fell four short of his second hundred in the Test. He was out for a wonderful 96 off 193 balls, a hard-fought knock in which he hit nine fours.

Having set South Africa a target of 458, India would have been confident of pulling off a famous win. The Proteas, of course, had other ideas and nearly pulled off an improbable chase.

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#1 38 & 96 vs VVS Laxman - Durban (December 2010)

VVS Laxman starred with the bat during India’s famous win in Durban in 2010. Pic: Getty Images

VVS Laxman missed out on a well-deserved hundred during the Boxing Day Test of 2010 in Durban. However, with his sublime knock of 96 in the second innings, Laxman set up one of India’s most famous away wins. He top-scored with 38 in the first innings, but India were cleaned up for 205 in 65.1 overs.

Harbhajan Singh (4/10) and Zaheer Khan (3/36) brought India back in the contest as South Africa were bundled out for 131. India lost half their side for 93 in the second innings. Under pressure, Laxman stood up and played a Test knock of the highest order. Batting for 280 minutes, he faced 171 balls and hit 12 fours during the course of his marvelous innings. Although Laxman missed out on a hundred, he lifted India’s total to 228.

Set a target of 303, South Africa were cleaned up for 215 in 72.3 overs. While Sreesanth and Zaheer claimed three scalps each, Harbhajan chipped in with two. Laxman was deservedly named Man of the Match for his memorable batting performance in India’s 87-run triumph.