New Delhi, (DHNS): India’s home series against South Africa will begin with the first T20 International on October 2 followed by five ODIs and four Test matches, making it the longest tour to the country by the Proteas.

Besides three T20 Internationals at Dharamsala (October 2), Cuttack (October 5) and Kolkata (October 8), the series will feature one-dayers in Kanpur (October 11), Indore (October 14), Rajkot (October 18), Chennai (October 22) and Mumbai (October 25).
The limited overs games will be followed by Tests at Mohali (November 5-9), Bengaluru (November 14-18), Nagpur (November 25-29) and the concluding match of the tour at Delhi from December 3 to 7.

The fixtures were on Monday jointly announced by BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA).
In all, the tour will last for 72 days.

“I am delighted to confirm, together with the BCCI, the Proteas’ itinerary for our tour of India later this year,” said CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

“This will be the longest tour that we have undertaken to India and the first time we will play a four-Test series. Both countries are now working to develop this into an icon series. Another first is that we will be playing our first T20 International match against India in India.

South Africa’s talismanic captain A B de Villiers is scheduled to play his 100th Test at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

“Of note will be the second Test match to be played in Bangalore where the Castle Lager Proteas previously secured our only ever Test Series win over India in India in 2000. If all works out this will be AB de Villiers’ 100th Test match and it could not be a more appropriate venue as it has become AB’s second home through his involvement with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

“Being a landmark tour in the young history of Cricket South Africa, I wish to thank the BCCI for all the hard work that has been put in to scheduling this tour and I now look forward to the Test series becoming an iconic one,” Lorgat said.

Fixtures:
Oct 2: 1st T20 (Dharamshala); Oct 5: 2nd T20 (Cuttack); Oct 8: 3rd T20 (Kolkata); Oct 11: 1st ODI (Kanpur); Oct 14: 2nd ODI (Indore); Oct 18: 3rd ODI (Rajkot); Oct 22: 4th ODI (Chennai); Oct 25: 5th ODI (Mumbai); Nov 5-9: 1st Test (Mohali); Nov 14-18: 2nd Test (Bengaluru); Nov 25-29: 3rd Test (Nagpur); Dec 3-7: 4th Test (Delhi).

Photo credit: DHNS