South Africa vs India Tests 2013: 5 battles that will decide the series outcome

Morne Morkel vs Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli might have had a forgettable ODI series in South Africa, but he would want to put that behind him and play a defining hand in that inexperienced Indian middle order during the Test series.

With Tendulkar retiring from the game, Virat Kohli is expected to take the no.4 position in the Indian Test lineup, and the spotlight would be on him to perform under intense pressure and scrutiny.

“Morne Morkel vs Virat Kohli” was one of the most anticipated battles during the ODI series as well, but Kohli, along with other Indian batsmen failed collectively and as such, there wasn’t a contest to witness.

Morne Morkel relishes bowling back of a length and getting it up to the chin level of the batsman. He is not someone who will pitch the ball up and rely on lateral or seam movement.

Kohli plays the cut and the pull shot to good effect, and will certainly take the attack to the Proteas, irrespective of the state of the game.

This contest is about fighting fire with fire, and Kohli, as is always expected of him, will take on anything that the tall South African fast bowler throws at him. If Kohli can nullify Morkel’s “sweet chin music”, India can look at piling a decent total on the board.