A quarter of a century back, when South Africa arrived in India for a two-Test series with an ICC trophy in their possession, they completed a 2-0 sweep. Temba Bavuma will be hoping history repeats itself and that he can emulate Hansie Cronje by becoming only the second Protean skipper to oversee a series triumph on Indian soil.

SA look to repeat history

In early 2000, Cronje’s men scored convincing victories in Mumbai and Bengaluru in Sachin Tendulkar’s last games as India’s captain. That came on the back of their stirring, unchecked run in the inaugural ICC KnockOut Trophy (as the Champions Trophy was then called) in Bangladesh in 1998. Bavuma’s side are the Test world champions following their sublime decimation of Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s five months ago, and believe they have the resources to end a 25-year wait for ultimate success in India.