Find out all you need to know about the clash between the sides at Visakhapatnam
Following the drawn three-match T20 series, South Africa's tour of India concludes with three Tests which make up part of the World Test Championship.
South Africa have not won a series in India since 2000 when they won 2-0 thanks to victories in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
FIRST TEST: Dr Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam (Wednesday, October 2 - Sunday, October 6)
SECOND TEST: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune (Thursday, October 10 - Monday, October 14)
THIRD TEST: JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi (Saturday, October 19 - Wednesday, October 23)
India have been near-enough imperious since the conclusion of the World Cup. They left the tour of the West Indies unbeaten across all three formats, before the drawn T20 series with South Africa.
The Windies were swept aside with a degree of comfort on India's last Test outing. In the first Test they won by a mammoth 318 runs after scores of 81 and 102 Ajinkya Rahane and figures of 5-7 in the second innings from Jasprit Bumrah.
In the second Test, India continued their dominance as Bumrah took six wickets as the West Indies were bowed out for just 117 in reply to the tourists' 416 all out. India would eventually cruise to a 257-run success.
India are the favourites to go 1-0 up in the series, with Dafabet rating them at 8/15, while South Africa are available at 9/2. The draw is 3/1
Shubman Gill is in contention for his Test debut after being included in the squad for the first time, with KL Rahul dropped completely. Rohit Sharma is braced for a spell at the top of the order following his white-ball success.
Jasprit Bumrah was called-up in the original group but a stress fracture in his lower back has seen him replaced by Umesh Yadav, who went unused against the West Indies.
India squad: Virat Kohli (Capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill
The Proteas are beginning life after Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla, following their respective retirements from Test and international cricket, respectively.
Anrich Nortje, Rudi Second and Senuran Muthusamy have been handed their maiden call-ups, while Faf du Plessis returns as captain after missing the T20 series.
This is South Africa's first Test outing since they were shocked last February by Sri Lanka, who became the first sub-continental side to win a series in the Rainbow Nation. This is also their first match in the WTC, which began in earnest in August.
South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis(c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
Sunny spells and warm conditions are expected for the first four days of this Test, which should ensure a result is delivered. On day five thunderstorms are likely, which could threaten the twilight of the game.
In India, Star Sports will be showing the Tests while ESPN will be broadcasting the match in the United States and beyond.
In the UK, the first Test will be broadcast on Star Gold HD (Sky channel 717, Virgin Media 801, TalkTalk Plus TV 551). Alternatively, Hotstar will be streaming the entire series.
This preview is brought to you in association with Dafabet India. For more on Dafabet and to place a bet, click here
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