Razeen Gutta
Adhering to strict Covid-19 protocols the Boxing Day test kicks off in Centurion with Indian cricketing icon Virat Kholi set to captain his nation during the tour.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) will incur added expenses and will be required to revise bio-bubble protocols to ensure the world’s most watched cricketing nation plays this summer.
The television revenue that India’s tours to South Africa generate is second to none and the tour was vital for CSA.
The original schedule, which featured three tests, three One Day Internationals (ODI’s) and four T20’s would have brought in R700-million in broadcast sales as well as millions more in sponsorship revenue. With the T20’s now off the calendar for the time being, the income will be reduced.
Another change in the schedule saw the test series move ahead by one week with the boxing day test now starting off the tour. Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium will host the traditional New Year’s test from 3rd January while Cape Town will host the finale, starting on the 11th of January.
The ODI’s will all take place in the Western Cape, too, with Paarl playing host to the first two and Cape Town to the last one on the 23rd of January.
Duane Olivier has been recalled to the Proteas’ test squad which Dean Elgar will captain. Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje all return to the team as well after sitting out the Netherlands ODI’s.
For India, Kohli will retain his captaincy in the long format while Rohit Sharma will take on his new role as one day captain should he regain full fitness in time. Sharma has been ruled out of the tests with Priyank Panchal, who recently led the India A team, replacing him.
Image source: @BusinessStandard
