[Eshen]

Intro of the pacers we may face this series, though this article is few months old, before the Ind-SA series last December.

Duanne Olivier
As the first of South Africa's Kolpak returnees to be re-selected for Tests, Olivier's challenge is to win hearts, minds and matches. Some South Africans still bear a grudge about his leaving and then answering a question about whether he wanted to play for England in the affirmative. They may forgive him if he can replicate the fuller lengths that brought him success on the county circuit in home conditions that seem to cry out for short balls. Luckily Olivier already has practice and has been playing for the Johannesburg-based Lions since his return to the South Africa set-up. He has been the standout bowler in the first-class competition so far, was recalled at the first opportunity, and is tipped to make an international comeback in this series.

Recent form: Olivier is the leading bowler in the domestic first-class competition, with 28 wickets at 11.14 and with two five-wicket hauls. He comes back into international cricket off a fairly successful run for Yorkshire over the last three years: 75 wickets in 25 matches for the county, but at a somewhat bloated average of 32.42.

Glenton Stuurman
Stuurman, who some call the next Vernon Philander, may have thought himself in line for a debut last summer but an injury just ahead of the series against Sri Lanka ruled him out. If South Africa think someone who moves the ball in subtle ways and probes outside the off stump for extended periods of time is needed to both keep India on their toes and wear them down with persistence, they may turn to Stuurman.

Lutho Sipamla
After taking ten wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka last summer, Sipamla has been overlooked for Test series against Pakistan and West Indies, and now against India. He was left out of the touring party to the Caribbean so he could spend time playing for South Africa A, and he was their second-most prolific wicket-taker against Zimbabwe A in a series played over the winter. Sipamla made his mark on the international stage for accuracy and keeping his cool - his first 12 overs in Test cricket cost 66 runs but his next 27.5 only went for 101 and yielded two handfuls of wickets - and he is likely to be called on in future.

Recent form: Sipamla was South Africa A's leading bowler in the series against India A, taking nine wickets at a shade over 33.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/s...series-1294048

Little bit more on offspinner Simon Harmer:

Since his last Test, across the County Championship and Bob Willis Trophy, Harmer has taken 303 wickets in 61 matches, more than any other bowler in that six-year period. He was also the leading wicket-taker in the the County Championship in 2019 and in the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. This season, Harmer is the second-leading bowler in the domestic four-day competition, after Olivier, and has taken 27 wickets at 21.40.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/s...ealand-1298813