India vs South Africa 2018: 5 players who could decide the Test series

India is scheduled to tour South Africa in January for a full-fledged series which includes 3 Tests. The Indian team is playing an away Test after a gap of 17 months and some of the Indian players are touring South Africa for the first time in their career.

Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers are expected to make their comebacks but their participation is still unknown. Even without them, South Africa boasts a formidable lineup. The Indian team is having a great 2017 at home, and they will be looking to prove themselves in the away conditions as well.

Both teams possess some great players but here, we will talk about the players who will make a big impact in the Test series.

#5 Dean Elgar

South Africa v England - First Test: Day Three

The Proteas batsman has been one of the most consistent players for South Africa in 2017, and the second highest run scorer in Tests during the calendar year.

The 30-year-old left-handed opener has scored 1097 runs from 11 Tests in 2017 at an average of 54.85, with 5 hundreds and 4 fifties.

In South Africa, Elgar has scored 1460 runs from 20 Tests with six hundreds and four fifties, at an average of 56.15. His last 8 innings in South Africa read 113, 18, 119, 27, 55, 129, 52, and 45.

The start will be crucial and Elgar has provided a good one with the bat more often than not for South Africa in the last 12 months. He has the temperament and patience to play long innings and will look to start 2018 with a bang.