South Africa to play four Tests in India; de Villiers set for 100th!

South Africa will play four Tests and five One-Day Internationals on their upcoming tour of India from September 29 to December 7.

The 72 days' tour -- their longest ever to the sub-continent -- also comprises three Twenty20 matches.

South Africa's premier batsman AB de Villiers will attain the landmark of 100 Test matches during the second Test in Bangalore, his second home through his involvement with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

“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," Cricket South Africa Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, said on Monday.

This is South Africa's first Test series in India after nearly five-and-a-half years. The last series, comprising two Tests and hosted by India in 2010, ended in a 1-1 draw.

The four Tests will be played in Mohali, Bangalore, Nagpur and Delhi, while the ODIs are scheduled to be held in Kanpur, Indore, Rajkot, Chennai and Mumbai.

"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," Lorgat added.

Image: AB de Villiers of South Africa.

Photograph: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images

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