India vs South Africa 2019: 5 players who can produce series-defining performances in Tests

India and South Africa will kick-off the three-match Test series with the first Test at Visakhapatnam starting tomorrow, October 2. India and South Africa have featured in some intense battles over the years. However, on current form, team strength analysis, experience as well conditions on offer, India undoubtedly start as favourites.

The last time South Africa visited India in 2015-16, they were handed a 3-0 defeat despite having match winners like Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers and Hashim Alma in their ranks. Neither of the three is part of the Test squad anymore. As such, the task for the Proteas, led by Faf du Plessis this time, is expected to be that much tougher.

India, in contrast, will look to extend their unbeaten streak at home even further. Their last home series defeat in Tests came in 2012 against England, with Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen at their peak, and the spinners exploiting Indian batsmen’s weaknesses. Under Virat Kohli, India have been a dominant force at home, and competitive away.

As the latest India-South Africa Test series gets underway, we take a look at five players from either side, who could make series-defining contributions.

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#5. Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada will carry the main bowling threat for South Africa.

The promising South African pacer is undoubtedly one of the best in the business today. It was in India, during South Africa’s last tour here in 2015, that Rabada made his Test debut. He had a tough initiation back then, picking up only two wickets in three Tests at an average of 55.50. Since then, he has come a long way.

Rabada is sharp and accurate, and has troubled the best of batsmen in world cricket, including Virat Kohli. He had an excellent series against India in South Africa last year, where he picked up 15 wickets at an average of 20.26. Rabada’s duel with Rohit Sharma, whom he has dismissed three times in Tests, will be fascinating to watch.

Of course, the conditions in India wouldn't be as receptive to pace bowling as say a pitch in Cape Town or Johannesburg, which is where Rabada’s versatile skills will be put to test.

#4. Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis will look to redeem himself from South Africa's 2015 tour of the sub-continent.

Faf du Plessis is among the few surviving players from the horror tour of 2015. He had a nightmarish series back then, with a meagre returns of 60 runs from 4 Tests at an average of 8.57.

His scores in that series read 0,1,0,10,39,0 and 10. It is to Faf’s credit that he has been able to recover from that disastrous tour. Many others have disintegrated post poor India tours.

Faf now returns to the place that haunted him, this time as leader of the ship. With no AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla around, he will be now expected to perform the lead role with the bat, along with the likes of Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma.

In the four-year period since South Africa’s last tour of India, Faf has grown tremendously in stature as a player. Now, he gets one more chance to prove his worth in India.

#3. Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara's resilient batting could be India's secret weapon.

India’s rock solid number three had a surprisingly poor tour of West Indies, with a highest score of 27 in four innings. However, back on home soil where he has made gallons of runs in Test and first-class cricket, Pujara would be confident of putting on a good show.

He was instrumental in India’s historic Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, and would be keen for an encore against the Proteas.

Pujara did not have a great series against South Africa the last time they were here in 2015. He managed 202 runs with a best of 77 at a middling average of 33.66. Pujara’s overall performance against South Africa also falls in the mediocre category -- 11 Tests for 613 runs at an average of 32.36, with a solitary hundred scored at Johannesburg in December, 2013. So there is room for improvement for Pujara with regards to South Africa.

#2. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin could be India's star turn with the ball.

No longer in the reckoning for the shorter formats, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been away from the limelight for a while. A Test series at home, however, makes Ashwin a must-mention when it comes to the list of potential match-winners.

With 234 wickets in 38 Tests at an average under 23 and as many as 20 five-wicket hauls, Ashwin has been the go-to man for India in home Tests. Facing Ashwin on the spinning tracks of India will be among South Africa’s greatest challenges in the Test series.

Ashwin had a sensational series against South Africa back in 2015, when he claimed 31 wickets in four Tests while averaging 11.12 with four five-wicket hauls and a best of 7/66. The performance was all the more credible, coming against a strong Proteas outfit comprising de Villiers and Amla.

Ashwin will be keen to repeat his heroics. Can South Africa’s relatively new batting guard keep him at bay?

#1. Virat Kohli

All eyes will be on Indian skipper Virat Kohli against South Africa.

The Indian skipper, as he has so often been before, could be the man to make or break the series for India. Kohli, at present is at the peak of his powers, and is constantly competing with Australia’s Steven Smith for the crown of the world’s best batsman of the current era.

In that sense, his performance in the Tests in West Indies, where he got two fifties in four innings was a bit of an underachievement. Or perhaps, a weak West Indies bowling did not challenge Kohli much.

There will be no shortage of motivation as Kohli takes on South Africa at home though. Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi form a formidable pace attack while Keshav Maharaj is a rather under-rated left-arm spinner.

Kohli had a surprisingly underwhelming series at home in 2015 -- with 200 runs averaging 33.33 and a best of 88. Very unlike Kohli. He now has the chance to set the record straight.