India vs South Africa | Top 5 batsmen who can score the most runs in this series

After a disappointing end to India’s 2019 Cricket World Cup and an encouraging start to the Test Championships, Virat Kohli and his men take on South Africa at home. Flat tracks and mammoth team scores being the order of the day, these South African batsmen will have their tasks cut out. Probably, the most talked about team in the initial stages of the World Cup, South Africa will aim to better their record of 4 losses in 7 Freedom Trophy games when they travel to the Indian sub-continent. Hot and humid conditions shall dictate terms in a series which may well be decided on 1st innings huge scorecards.

Following are the top 5 batsmen from both sides who are expected to perform out of their skins to win the Freedom Trophy 2019.

#5 Quinton de Kock

New T20 skipper Quinton de Kock will be eager to perform in the Indian sub-continent

Declared as the new limited-overs format captain, Quinton de Kock will have ample to prove with 43 being his highest score in the last Freedom Trophy. Jasprit Bumrah proved to be his nemesis, claiming the wicket-keeper batsman three times. Quinton announced his arrival on stage with a bang against India and the team management will be hoping for nothing less.

#4 Rishabh Pant

Shot selection will be key for Rishabh Pant

Already being hailed as the heir to the wicket-keeping throne in all formats of the game, Delhi boy Rishabh Pant will have to undergo the surgical eyes of captain Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri.

Deemed, by many, as a rash modern-day cricketer who has big boots to fill, Pant's over-scrutinised life will not go unnoticed, as his shot-selection by the team management. Pant, along with Sharma have the rare ability to chase down scores, reminding us of the elegant (mostly) Virender Sehwag.

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#3 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma will try to cement his place in the Test side

Having a look at Rohit Sharma’s performance in the recently-concluded World Cup, who would have thought that a cricketer with such talent, still needs performances to built his stature as a Test cricketer.

Vice-captain in the limited-overs format, The Hitman may well be looking at the Freedom Trophy as a last chance to impress the selectors and negate the possibility of a Yuvraj-like stop-and-start Test career. He averages a dismal 12 in 6 Test matches against South Africa.

#2 Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis will have a lot to prove this summer

South Africa Cricket Board has retained and shown faith in captain Faf du Plessis to lead their side in the Tests against India. With the World Cup behind him, Du Plessis will be looking to dominate the Indian side from the start.

Having captained them to a series win against India in South Africa two years ago, Du Plessis knows that he continues to be the linchpin and backbone of this side. Despite winning the last Freedom series, Faf only had 2 half-centuries and a 48 to his name.

#1 Virat Kohli

As usual, there will be a lot expected of Virat Kohli in the series

Undisputedly India’s most consistent and best batsmen in home conditions, Virat Kohli has the extra burden of scoring heaps of runs apart from captaining the team. Considered in the elite group of four (Joe Root, Kane Williamson & Steven Smith), the Indian skipper will have to be at his best considering the Test Championships in mind.

Kohli scored a glorious 153 at Centurion in the 2nd Test which ended on a losing note. With only two half-centuries to his name against the West Indies, an unlike-Kohli like performance can well be turned into a spectators delight against the Proteas.

#Special Mention-Ajinkya Rahane

County stint and the West Indies tour has given Rahane much needed confidence

Ajinkya Rahane is in red hot form coming into the Freedom series and battling Indian pitches might well be the boost he requires to get his mojo back. India vice-captain will be hoping to make the best of the successful West Indies tour, registering scores of 81, 102 and 64* in 2 Tests.