Current India-South Africa Combined Test XI

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Who makes the cut?

South Africa and India have both had a great history of producing some of the best players to have played the game. From South Africa's array of fast bowlers to India's seemingly endless production line of top-class batsmen, there have been many world class players from both countries.

But who is the best among the current crop of players from India and South Africa? Who would get into the current India-South Africa combined Test XI? The players have been selected on the basis of form, availability and their ability to perform across all conditions.

Here is the current India-South Africa combined Test XI:

Openers

Murali Vijay

One of India's most consistent performers, whether at home or abroad, Murali Vijay takes the opening spot. The Tamil Nadu batsman has shown incredible patience and has the ability to find his way through a sticky situation. Despite playing just six Tests in 2017 due to injury, he still scored over 500 runs at an average of 52 with three centuries. His ability to grind the opposition attack makes him the ideal batsman to foil any new ball plans.

Dean Elgar

Since the retirement of Graeme Smith, South Africa had struggled to find a suitable replacement but over the last two years, Dean Elgar has put his hand up and delivered on a consistent basis. In 2017, he was the first batsman to cross 1,000 Test runs in the calendar year and eventually finished the year as the third leading Test run-getter.

While both Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul were both in great form, Elgar takes the spot due to his ability to score big and score consistently. He scored five centuries and four fifties in 2017 and provides the ideal right-left combination at the start of the innings.

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