India vs South Africa Tests 2023 starts on December 26 - watch live in India

The Indian cricket team will square off against South Africa in a two-match Test series starting on Tuesday, December 26.

As per the India vs South Africa Tests 2023 schedule, the first match will be played at SuperSport Park in Centurion, while the second Test will be hosted at the Newlands Cricket Ground which will commence on January 3.

Two-time ICC World Test Championship (WTC) runners-up India started their WTC 2023-25 campaign with a 1-0 win over West Indies in the two-match series in the Caribbean in July. 

India, who are the world’s top-ranked Test side at the moment, are also on top of the WTC 2023-25 standings with 16 points from two matches. The two matches against South Africa will be the Indian cricket team’s second series in the WTC 2023-25 cycle.

India’s 16-member Test squad will be led by captain Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli will also be part of the Test squad after skipping the recently-concluded white-ball series against the Proteas.

The likes of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer and pacer Jasprit Bumrah have also made a comeback to the Indian Test squad.

However, India have suffered a massive blow as star fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series due to an ankle injury. India’s pace battery includes Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna.

Furthermore, wicketkeeper KS Bharat has replaced Ishan Kishan after the southpaw had requested to be released from the squad due to personal reasons.

The Rohit Sharma-led side will look to become the first Indian team to win a Test series in South Africa.

The South Africa cricket team will be led by Temba Bavuma. Middle-order batter David Bedingham has received his maiden national call-up. Tristan Stubbs has also been included in the Test squad for the first time.

The Proteas will miss the services of fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Wayne Parnell due to injuries. Additionally, star pacer Kagiso Rabada is also doubtful for the two-match Test series.

South Africa will begin their WTC 2023-25 campaign with the India Test series.

India vs South Africa Test head-to-head

South Africa hold a slight edge in their head-to-head record against India in Test cricket, winning 17 of the 42 matches played between these two teams. India have registered 15 victories while as many as 10 matches have ended in draws.

The last time these two sides met, South Africa clinched a three-match Test series 2-1 at home in 2022.

Where to watch India vs South Africa Tests 2023 live?

The India vs South Africa Tests 2023 will be telecast live on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi and their respective HD TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the IND vs RSA Tests 2023 will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website in India. 

India vs South Africa Tests 2023 schedule and live match start times

All times in India Standard Time (IST)

India vs South Africa Tests 2023 squads

India Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wicket-keeper)  

South Africa Test squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham (wicket-keeper), Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs (wicket-keeper), Kyle Verreynne (wicket-keeper)

Photo credit: Alamy