3 South Africa players who could spring a surprise on India in IND vs SA 2025 Tests ft. Senuran Muthusamy

India and South Africa are set to face off in a two-match Test series starting Friday, November 14, with the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata hosting the opening game. This will be South Africa’s first Test tour to India since 2019, when they suffered a 3-0 whitewash.

This time, the reigning World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 winners will look to turn things around under the leadership of Temba Bavuma. The Proteas squad features several proven match-winners, and here is a look at some of their unit:

Temba Bavuma (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.

As the two teams prepare for an exciting showdown, here are three South African players who could prove to be game-changers in the IND vs SA 2025 Tests.

3 South African players who could spring a surprise on India in the 2025 Test series

#1 Tony de Zorzi

The first player on the list is Tony de Zorzi. Batting in the middle order, the 28-year-old recently impressed during the Test series against Pakistan, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The left-hander displayed remarkable resilience against Pakistan’s spinners on turning tracks, scoring 175 runs (most in the series) in four innings at an average of 58.33, including one fifty and a century, with a top score of 104 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Overall, he has featured in 15 Tests, amassing 816 runs at an average of 31.38, with three fifties and two centuries to his name. Given his recent form and experience of playing on subcontinental pitches, the southpaw could prove to be a real challenge for the Indian bowlers.

#2 Senuran Muthusamy

Next on the list is South African all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy. The 31-year-old was named Player of the Series in the recent Test series against Pakistan, where he scored 106 runs in three innings at an average of 53.00, including a fifty. With the ball, the left-arm spinner was equally impressive, claiming 11 wickets in four innings at an average of 18.36 and a strike rate of 31.09, along with two five-wicket hauls.

In his brief Test career spanning seven matches so far, Muthusamy has performed well, scoring 279 runs at an average of 46.50 with two fifties, and taking 22 wickets at an average of 26.50 and a strike rate of 41.1, with best figures of 6/117.

He was also part of South Africa’s squad during their 2019 tour of India, where he took two wickets and scored 98 runs in two Tests. Given his prior experience in Indian conditions and recent form, South Africa will be hoping for another strong showing from the all-rounder.

#3 Simon Harmer

The final player on the list is off-spinner Simon Harmer, who boasts an impressive record of 1,000 first-class wickets in 234 matches at an average of 26.34 and a strike rate of 55.6, including 58 five-wicket hauls.

The 36-year-old was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the recent Test series against Pakistan, picking up 13 scalps in two matches at an average of 21.30 and a strike rate of 42.53, including a five-wicket haul.

Harmer previously toured India during the four-match Test series in 2015, which South Africa lost 3-0. The off-spinner featured in two Tests, picking up 10 wickets at an average of 25.40 and a strike rate of 50.00, with best figures of 4/61.

Overall, he has featured in 12 Tests, taking 52 wickets at an average of 26.00 and a strike rate of 51.1. With his wealth of experience and prior success in subcontinental conditions, Harmer could pose a serious threat to the Indian batting lineup.

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Edited by Dev Sharma