Panesar pointed out that Kohli would be under immense pressure to perform after losing his ODI captaincy to Rohit Sharma.
Duanne Olivier exploded on to the Test scene four years ago and took 48 wickets in 10 Tests, at an average below 20, but then took up a Kolpak contract with English county Yorkshire that meant he was lost to South African cricket.
South Africa have often relied on fast bowlers on spicy home wickets to get them to victory, but are also well aware that India have developed an excellent pace attack that has brought them overseas success in the last few years.
'This is an experienced side and we know what is expected of our team.' 'When it comes to preparation, all of us are ready.'
'South Africa remains an unconquered bastion. Remember, the Proteas are no pushovers in their own backyard, but we have got the firepower and the arsenal to match that.'
The BCCI and Cricket South Africa have mutually agreed that the upcoming Test and ODI series between the two teams will continue even if there is an isolated case of COVID-19 among players or support staff and close contacts will not be forced into isolation, CSA's medical officer Shuaib Manjra said.
Besides a batting failure, India's skipper Virat Kohli listed inconsistency, lack of application, lapse in concentration and their inability to seize the crunch moments as reasons for the India's defeat in the three-match rubber, which the hosts prevailed 2-1.
The Indian team seemed to enjoy their training session in Centurion as they prepared for the opening Test against South Africa on Sunday.
South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje was on Tuesday ruled out of the upcoming three Test series against India due to a 'persistent' injury.
The South African board said in a statement that the decision to play behind closed doors had been taken jointly with the Indian cricket board (BCCI).
The Indian cricket team is gradually increasing its training intensity as it adapts to the higher altitude ahead of the first Test against South Africa, in Centurion, from December 26.
Ravichandran Ashwin can play the all-rounder's role in any condition, India skipper Virat Kohli said on Monday, impressed by the premier off-spinner's consistency with both bat and ball in recent years.
'I would say Board president is Board president but yes the Indian cricket team captain is also a big thing. But talking badly about each other in public, I don't think it is a good thing, whether it is Sourav or Kohli.'
Besides Agarwal, New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel and Australian pacer Mitchell Starc were also short-listed for the award.
Images from Day 3 in the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, in Mohali, on Sunday.
India's Test captain Virat Kohli has not put in any formal request for a break from the ODI leg of the upcoming South Africa tour, a top BCCI official said.
Panchal got a call-up on the back of a 96 in an A Test match against South Africa A recently.
South African batting consultant Justin Sammons hailed Dean Elgar's stubborn resistance against a fearsome Indian attack, saying the skipper's show with the bat will be key if the hosts have to win the Wanderers Test.
India's Under-19 World Cup winning captain Yash Dhull started his journey from being among the boys with a muscular hundred -- 113 off 150 balls -- against Tamil Nadu side on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy.
Legendary South Africa batter Hashim Amla says more "collective experience" in the Indian side was one of the key factors in the visiting side's comfortable victory in the series-opener at Centurion.
Ajinkya Rahane has been retained in India's Test squad, to be led by Virat Kohli, for the South Africa series later this month.
Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has been recalled for South Africa's home Test series against India, a reward for excellent domestic form from a player who shot to prominence four years ago before taking up a Kolpak contract.
South Africa confirm updated India itinerary.
Rahul, believing in his philosophy of 'less is better', curbed his once-infamous impetuosity
New Zealand's Mumbai-born left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel is relishing every bit of his dream homecoming after grabbing all the four wickets during the first day's play against India in the second Test, on Friday.
India have never won a Test series on South African soil and Kohli's men will go all out to be the first team to achieve the feat.
South Africa's foreign ministry has said that a 'full bio-secure environment' will be created for the Indian cricket team when it lands in Johannesburg for a highly-anticipated series next month
'I've played with Bumrah in the IPL and we're good friends. You're not going to back down when you're playing for your country and sometimes on the field things get heated.'
'We have the likes of (captain) Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma, who have the ability to dig in and score big runs and I also like the way that Rassie (van der Dussen) has come in and grown in that team.'
Dean Elgar feels the SA batters got a 'window period' to go after the target in the 3rd Test following India's on-field outburst on the DRS call
Former South Africa batting all-rounder Farhan Behardien is hoping that the new COVID-19 variant, which is causing alarm here, will not jeopardise India's tour of the country next month as young cricketers of his nation need the series "more than ever".
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur said the Board of Control for Cricket in India should consult the government before sending the cricket team to South Africa, where a new COVID-19 variant is causing havoc.
'I am sure there is enough time for us to prepare and guys are looking forward to this series. This is the best opportunity for us to win our first series in South Africa. So all of us are looking forward to it.'
'Now, we have very different setting including changes in rules with two new balls and the fielding restrictions are very different. But ODI fever started in the 1990s. On-field noticeable changes, early to mid 90s was okay, but from 1996 things changed at rapid pace.'
Mohammed Shami claimed his 200th Test wicket and completed figures of 5-44 as hosts South Africa were bowled out for 197 on the third day of the first Test.
The fate of India's upcoming tour of South Africa amid the trepidation triggered by new COVID-19 variant Omicron will be addressed when the Board of Control for Cricket in India holds its 90th Annual General Meeting in Kolkata on Saturday.
Kohli was addressing the media on the eve of the second and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai from Friday.
Dravid said that he doesn't want to reveal his side to the opposition before the main day.
The new COVID-19 variant, which threatens to wreak havoc in South Africa, has led to considerable concerns about India's tour of the Rainbow Nation next month and there could be changes in the quarantine rules for players in the coming days.
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