India's Quest For Test Cricket Greatness On The Line In South Africa

Rohit Sharma will lead India's charge against South Africa (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty ... [+] Images)

For the past month, India have had to do some soul searching following their thrashing at home in the World Cup final to Australia. There was in the meantime a meaningless T20I series against Australia between two shorthanded teams that underlined cricket's problems with its saturated calendar.

Mighty India - cricket's undisputed powerhouse on-and-off the field - have been widely mocked for their decade-long title drought at major events. It is quite bewildering considering their limitless resources and depth of talent from the world's most populous country where cricket is the undisputed number one sport.

But India have been consistently the best team in Test cricket for about the last five years. It is a testament to India's desire to dominate the traditional but flagging format as their commitment essentially keeps the five-day format afloat.

Rohit Sharma has led a strong India team. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

One wonders what will happen to Test cricket if India pulls the plug - actually, we know that it would basically consist of reruns of the Ashes series between old foes Australia and England in what has become something of a cultural war battle.

For now, India remain committed and that may be due to them producing their best sustained run in Test cricket leading to memorable triumphs in previously tough terrain for them.

None more so than their historical victory against the odds in Australia in 2020-21, but India are now tasked with tackling the difficult surroundings of South Africa in what has long been described as their "final frontier".

India traditionally have been roughed up by South Africa's fiery pace bowlers on uncompromising pitches that are similar to Australian surfaces but even more challenging and also negate spin - a strength of India.

In eight Test tours to South Africa, they've never returned home victorious although in 2010-11 India did square the series. It feels a little bit like deja vu with India two years ago steeling themselves to re-write record books only for their dreams to turn to despair when they fell to a series defeat having won the opener.

There are no excuses this time around in a series sadly cut to just two Tests to underline the parlous state of the long format in South Africa. Having been probably the most consistent force in Test cricket for three decades after their readmission in 1992, South Africa are playing the format less and less as attention and resources are devoted to T20 cricket.

South Africa might not be as formidable these days, but they will represent a stern challenge for India. They boast a potent pace attack, while battle-hardened batters - led by outgoing opener Dean Elgar - are difficult to dislodge on home wickets.

Dean Elgar will retire from Test cricket (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Still India should feel extremely confident and it might just be a last opportunity for their legendary players Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma to cement a considerable feat that would sit well with their achievements in Australia.

“These are very important matches in terms of where we stand as a team. Also, to look back, we have never won a series here as well. It’s a big opportunity for us to do well here,” Sharma said ahead of the first Test starting on Tuesday.

Perhaps it won't lead to such an outpouring of emotion from their cricket compatriots like winning a home World Cup, but ending their hoodoo in South Africa would probably be just as satisfying for India's players many of whom have expressed their belief that Test format is the hardest challenge of them all.

With Test cricket's future murky, amid concerns over how competitive South Africa will be moving forward, labelling this series as the 'final frontier' is probably rather apt.