As the three-match Test series begins in Centurion, the Indian squad will face South Africa in the 'Boxing Day' Test match. The Indian team's victories over Australia in two Test series in their own backyard and an invincible 2-1 lead in England have boosted hopes for them to win their first Test series in the 'Rainbow Nation.'
Virat Kohli lost his ODI captaincy to Rohit Sharma before heading to South Africa, and his batting record has been poor, with no Test tonne since November 2019. All of this, according to Panesar, a former England left-arm spinner, will push the Indian Test skipper. Panesar has backed BCCI President Sourav Ganguly's call for a single white ball skipper, after Rohit Sharma was appointed to replace Virat Kohli as the ODI captain.