Team India who started off their ICC World Test Championship campaign in emphatic fashion by thumping the West Indies 2-0 in their last test assignment would look to continue their winning streak and establish their position at the very top of the points table in the longer format. Meanwhile South Africa who come into the series on the back a stunning 2-0 loss to Sri Lanka on their home turf would be hoping to put up a stronger challenge against a formidable Indian team.
While the Indian squad is pretty settled with the exception of getting their opening woes sorted, South Africa have a new look team after the retirements of a couple of their seasoned campaigners - Hashim Amla, AB De Villiers and Dale Steyn.
South Africans dont have very happy memories from their last Test tour of India, as they were handed a humiliating 3-0 defeat in the 4-match Test series played between the sides in 2015.
India would be hoping that Rohit Sharma, who has been entasked with the new role of opening the innings at the top, would deliver with the willow in red ball cricket. Rohit would be opening for the hosts with Mayank Agarwal who has shown some promise during his short stint at the top of the order.
Only five players, including captain Faf du Plessis, were part of the squad that received a 3-0 hammering from India four years ago. Batsmen Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma were amongst the runs in the warm-up and that should give them confidence ahead of the game.
Fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi can cause trouble for the Indian batsmen, especially with prediction of overcast skies and spells of rain on all five days of the Visakhapatnam Test.
The rest of line-up looks settled with India expected to field two pacers and as many spinners. If the wicket is turning, Hanuma Vihari can play as a third spinner. "He can be really handy as a spinner," India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane said ahead of the game.
Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, the number one-ranked Indian Test team is eyeing a record-breaking 11th consecutive series at home.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), 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