World's Number One ranked Test team India are taking  on an in-transition South Africa in the opening Test of the 3-match series in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam . The Indian team which started off their ICC World Test Championship campaign in emphatic fashion with a 2-0 win over West Indies would be eyeing yet another series win against the Proteas on home soil.

The hosts look the stronger team on paper with a much more experienced and settled squad than the South Africans who are on a rebuilding phase after the retirements of some of their

The India-South Africa Test series has always witnesses some fascinating encounters with both teams having a galaxy of world class stroke-makers who were outright match winners for their respective sides in the Test duels between the two nations in red ball cricket.  While the Indians were considered as elegant and wristy  strokemakers who were known to be good players of spin, South Africans had some free flowing strokeplayers who were arguably the best players against quality seam attacks.

While the Indians had batting talents a plenty in their Test ranks - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharrudin, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly, the Proteas had top notch stroke-makers in Gary Kristen, Jacques Kallis, AB De Villiers, Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla to name a few.

So here is a look at the major batting records between India and South Africa in Test cricket

Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run scorer for India in Test cricket against South Africa. The 'Master Blaster' amassed 1741 runs at a healthy average of 42.46 in 25 Tests against the Proteas.

Jacques Kallis is the top run getter for South Africa in Test matches against India. The ever dependable strokemaker notched up 1734 runs in in 18 Tests at a superlative average of 69.39 against the Indians in the longest format.

Virender Sehwag has registered the highest individual Test score by an Indian against South Africa. The belligerent opener scored a mammoth 319 run knock  against the Proteas in Chennai in 2008.

Hashim Amla holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket against India. The elegant strokemaker scored an unbeaten 253-run knock against the Indians at Nagpur.

Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis jointly hold the record for the most tons in bilateral Test series between the two nations. Both the modern day batting greats have scored 7 tons each for their nations.

Sourav Ganguly and Hashim Amla have registered the most number of half centuries in the Test matches played between Indian and South Africa.

Virender Sehwag is the only triple centurion from both teams in the bilateral Tests played between Indian and South Africa.