Cape Town – Quite possibly the best Indian side to have visited South Africa have done the Proteas a massive favour ahead of their longest Test series against old southern foes Australia since 1969/70.

Whatever reservations you may harbour about Virat Kohli and company having arrived here as world No 1, helped by a lopsided succession of recent series in Subcontinent conditions, they turned out to be arguably the toughest team from that country to make the trek since bilateral Test combat began in 1992/93.

Whether the squad of 2017/18, pipped 2-1 overall after a gutsy dead-rubber victory on a controversial Wanderers pitch on Saturday, can be branded collectively as good as or better than some sides of the past – greats like Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid often in their midst, remember – is a matter for debate, but they were almost indisputably more square-jawed and resilient than any other party previously sent to South Africa when judged over the course of the whole series.

With luck, better composure and fewer errors (including howlers in selection) at times, they might even have sneaked the honours here for the first time, although most neutrals will concur that the Proteas were ultimately fitting winners.

They got the result they wanted, captain Faf du Plessis reminding former skipper Shaun Pollock at the post-series presentations at the Bullring that he would have “bitten your hand off for 2-1” at the outset … so broadest mission was accomplished.

Nevertheless, India have helped Du Plessis’s charges shed any delusions of grandeur, if you like, ahead of the four-Test visit of the Baggy Greens in a few weeks’ time.

The generally enthralling series, played on often quirky surfaces that thoroughly examined technique and temperament on the batting front, vitally demonstrated both the strengths and snags of the current Proteas arsenal, in the first exposure to a fellow “big four” nation since Ottis Gibson became head coach.

Remember that the first half of the summer saw the national side deceptively steamroll two sides – Bangladesh and Zimbabwe respectively — who barely deserve to sit at the same table as the quartet of superpowers in a Test-level context.

Especially given the forceful way they ended the series (handing Gibson his first reverse in six Tests at the off-field tiller) India stripped South Africa of any threat of complacency about their degree of global mettle.

The premier lesson to be banked, by my book, was that the Proteas simply do not have the depth or confidence in batting right now to risk presenting some of the same, overly “unreliable” tracks witnessed against India when the Australians touch down on our shores.

Much more accustomed to pacey surfaces than the Indians are, let’s face it, batsmen like David Warner and the currently sublime Steve Smith would be suitably up for such a challenge and, no less importantly, the Aussies boast a frontline fast-bowling combo (Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins) that is nastier and potentially more penetrative even than the frisky seam battery India showed off here in the last few weeks.

There was just too much of a lottery-like factor at play too often on pitches during the just-completed series, explaining why bowlers – a hallmark applicable to both teams – tended to look healthier, performance-wise, than batsmen did on the series averages.

Only two batsmen averaged above 40 (Virat Kohli 47.66 and Dean Elgar 41.40) whilst as many as eight bowlers – five South African, three Indian – averaged a stellar 20 or less.

It was brave (and for that reason pretty admirable in many ways, too?) that the Proteas placed their trust in a “six batsmen” policy, but a big complicator turned out to be the inexplicably acute loss of form and self-belief at the crease of wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock at No 6.

Albeit outstanding with the gloves, which should go at least some way to ensuring he doesn’t come close to the guillotine yet – maybe some top-end runs on the likely ODI belters just around the corner will massively help restore normal crease service for the left-hander – De Kock’s virtually series-long collywobbles (71 runs at a flimsy 11.83) meant that nervousness would begin to set in even when South Africa went three or four wickets down, considering the fluffiness of their tail.

Even at this relatively long range, I have a suspicion that the SA brains trust may be inclined to veer back toward seven batsmen – so the culling of a fifth specialist bowler — when the Aussie hostilities begin at Kingsmead on March 1.

Yes, he has his critics because he often fails to convert patient vigils into really major scores, but I steadfastly maintain that the technical tightness and nuggety qualities of Temba Bavuma still have a place somewhere in the SA middle order; he is at least a good foil for the more extrovert stroke-players like AB de Villiers and De Kock.

Bavuma, who also hikes fielding standards a great deal, ought to be fit again from a finger injury well in time for the Australian series; remember that he made some key runs in the pivotal first two Tests of the triumphant three-match tour Down Under in 2016/17.

A further lesson from the India series? Five fast bowlers in one Proteas attack (on the spiteful Wanderers track, where they positively screamed out for a longer batting line-up) is simply too many for a captain to have to administer, and Andile Phehlukwayo, who somehow looks to have so much more promise as a limited-overs player right now, sent down a miserly 10 overs throughout the match.

As that cerebral former SA seamer and national selector Craig Matthews reminded me in a Twitter chat: “Still to see a five-seamer attack work. One of them is always hardly used.”

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing

Johannesburg – The drama continues in the third Test with India looking better and better for a victory in Johannesburg.

At tea on day three, the visitors had battled their way to 199/6 – a lead of 192.

Indian physiotherapist Patrick Farhart was having one of his busier days, and as was the case in the opening session, he was back on the field between lunch and tea attending to the wounded Indian batsmen.

This Wanderers strip continues to be heavily criticised with West Indian great Michael Holding leading the chorus of disapproval.

Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Golud again flirted with the possibility of stopping play, it seemed, after Ajinkya Rahane (46*) was hit by Kagiso Rabada.

The problem with this pitch is its unpredictable bounce and wild movement. Throughout the day’s play balls having been getting up high off a length while jagging off the turf, and that has made for some nasty body, arm and hand shots.

India will know, though, that they just need to battle on a while longer. When South Africa do come into bat, they will be faced with a chase that looks a steep one in this match situation.

Virat Kohli (41) and Rahane resumed with the score on 100/4 after lunch and put on a partnership of 34 before a spectacular delivery from Rabada (3/59) saw the Indian skipper castled.

It was an unplayable delivery that ducked inwards, and not even Kohli could get near it.

Rabada struck soon after when he had Hardik Pandya (4) caught and bowled. At that stage, India were 148/6 and the Proteas would have felt right back in it.

Poor fielding then let the hosts down as first Rahane and then Bhuvneshwar Kumar (??) were dropped within the space of five balls.

To make matters worse, both chances were sitters.

Kumar edged Morne Morkel to Dean Elgar in the gully, but the Proteas opener never looked comfortable as he spilled the chance.

Then, in the very next over, Rahane slapped Rabada to deep point where Andile Phehlukwayo was well positioned.

The Dolphins youngster made the ground, but his hands let him down as he grassed another opportunity to get the Proteas moving in the right direction.

With the wicket commanding so much attention, the cricket feels like a sideshow at times.

But that won’t matter to India if they come away with a rare win in South Africa and restore some pride to their series.

Cape Town – Proteas opening batsman, Aiden Markram, has been passed fit for selection for the third Test match against India starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday.

READ: Faf – We don’t want Quinny to overthink batting

Markram injured his left quadricep during the 135-run win in the second match at Centurion, and was unable to field during India’s second innings.

The return of the opener brings welcome stability to the top of the order, as the selectors are once again faced with a selection conundrum for the Wanderers green-top. Captain, Faf du Plessis, says they will be keeping their ‘options open’ – including the possibility of an all-pace attack – as the Proteas look to seal a 3-0 series victory.

“We were pleased with our victory at Centurion, those weren’t typical South African conditions,” he said to the media in Johannesburg on the eve of the match. “We move to the Wanderers which looks more like the conditions we are used to. Once again we haven’t asked for conditions that are over the top, just for good pace and bounce, it looks like we will get that.

“ It is something we are speaking about in our selections,” he said of an all-pace attack. “It is an option, it was an option in Centurion because the ball doesn’t spin there regularly, even though we found it was the opposite. We have to make sure we keep our options open and see what the pitch looks like tomorrow morning. Keshav (Maharaj) is an extremely talented spin bowler and we are very lucky to have him, if we do think of leaving him out we have to be 100% sure.”

READ: Kohli challenges individuals in Indian team

India have yet to lose a match at the “Bullring” -winning one and drawing three – a record the Proteas are optimistic of breaking . The last match between the two nations in 2013 went down to the final over on day five, with the Proteas batting out the day to pull off a valiant draw, eight runs shy of a record 458 runs for victory.

“They have played some good cricket here,” Du Plessis said. “I remember the last Test we played here was a fantastic Test match. Their bowling is good, they have come here with a good seam attack and if you have that you will be able to compete. We also have a fantastic seam attack so it will be the battle between the bowlers. For me the pressure is on making sure we can keep their batsmen under pressure. It has been a quiet series for most of them, and if we can keep doing that we will be able to change that record.

“India will come back with a point to prove,” he admitted. “They are a proud team and wouldn’t want to lose 3-0, we are expecting a good challenge from them. For us as a team, it is simple, we want to continue doing the things we have been doing throughout the series.” 

Cape Town – A cruelly-timed hand injury to Temba Bavuma, who seemed a good bet for a recall, has narrowed the Proteas’ batting options for the third and final Test against India at the Wanderers from Wednesday.

Sport24 reliably learnt on Sunday that the tenacious little right-hander has been diagnosed with a fracture – one that may only side-line him for three weeks, but enough to rule him out of consideration for the Bullring and also more than half of the six-match one-day international series that follows.

The setback is inconvenient both to player and country; there has been understandable speculation that South Africa, already series victors, might wish to revert to seven batsmen – and a four-man attack made up entirely of quickies – for the closing Test against the Indians in anticipated damp and seam-friendly conditions.

Bavuma would have been fully entitled to feel he was first cab off the rank from the “reserves” under such circumstances, especially as the 27-year-old had been running into consistently healthy form again.

His last three knocks, from most recent, have been 65 for the Cape Cobras against the Knights in the Momentum One-Day Cup, 44 in the once-off Test against Zimbabwe before he was squeezed out of the XI for the first two Tests against the top-ranked Indians, and 70 against the Zimbabweans in a warm-up fixture for a CSA Invitation side at Paarl.

It is understood that he picked up the injury while on franchise duty.

CSA have been approached for official confirmation of Bavuma’s plight.

As well as itching to return to the Test plans, Bavuma, who doubles as a true fielding dynamo, would have wanted to be part of the ODI squad shortly – he has amassed 161 runs from just two prior appearances in the format, against Ireland (century-making debut, last season) and Bangladesh earlier this summer.

Instead, the focus now is likely to fall on Theunis de Bruyn, the other “extra” in the Test batting arsenal, for a possible berth at the Bullring on Wednesday if the Proteas decide, for example, not to field specialist spinner Keshav Maharaj.

De Bruyn, the 25-year-old from the Knights, has played three previous Tests for the Proteas, and although he sports only 72 runs from his six innings, they were tough fixtures at Hamilton (as makeshift opener), Lord’s and Old Trafford respectively.

The national selectors have generally prided themselves in recent times in giving rookie batsmen decent chances, as they say, and De Bruyn has not yet had the luxury of a Test on South African soil.

Apart from the Bavuma snag to their options, the Proteas must also await the outcome of a fitness test on Tuesday to in-form opener Aiden Markram, who has been nursing a quadricep niggle.

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing

Cape Town – Star batsman AB de Villiers says the Proteas have their plans in place leading up to the third and final Test against India at the Wanderers.

The Proteas have emphatically beaten the world No 1 team at Newlands (77 runs) and Centurion (135 runs) to claim the series with one Test still to play. 

READ: Cullinan lashes out at India’s lack of preparation

Virat Kohli and his charges have nothing to lose when they head in to the ‘dead-rubber’ Test in Johannesburg.

De Villiers acknowledges that the third Test is still “big” considering India would come fighting back in order to restore some pride.

“We’ve got a big third Test to come still and we know we have to play well. The Indians will obviously love to make it 2-1 and make a bit of a comeback in the series,” De Villiers told the reporters at the Pink Day launch on Thursday.

“If we keep that high intensity and adapting to conditions, we’ll keep them under pressure at the Wanderers and hopefully make it 3-0.

De Villiers admitted that he was surprised by the Indian bowling attack, who didn’t have trouble bowling at high-altitude in Centurion.

“I think their bowling attack surprised us all, it’s definitely more skilful and they have more pace from what we were expecting. Their bowlers have adapted well to the conditions,” said De Villiers.

“They (Indians) are fighters , they fight wherever they go and they got the skills. But we have our plans in place…”

The Proteas take a unassailable 2-0 lead into the final Test, which starts on Wednesday, January 24 at the Wanderers.