India ready for South Africa challenge

India began the new year and decade positively, rewarding spread punters who bought their win index in both matches of the 2-0 series victory over Bangladesh in January

They make the trip back across the border in time to accommodate South Africa's visit to the sub-continent for another five-day double header. Spread bettors looking to stay with the ICC's number one Test side for the two games will be wary of the jump in class of opposition - neighbours Bangladesh are the bottom-ranked side, while the Proteas are the second-best according the governing body's most recent standings.

The same spread buyers of the hosts' win index for the games at Nagpur and Kolkata will also know that the victory over Bangladesh came at a big cost, with the mightily prolific Rahul Dravid hospitalised by a bouncer which caused a fractured cheekbone. He may have since been released but cannot take to the crease for a number of weeks and, in addition, might not play a full part in the one day series.

Indeed, sellers of India's win index for either game will be doing so in the absence of a further key man, Yuvraj Singh, while Shanthakumaran Sreesanth - another first-teamer - is expected to miss at least the opening Test clash.

Some sellers of India's total runs spread might be encouraged by a rather large chunk of their middle order missing, but buyers in the same market will point to the fact that there are other men more than capable of recording high scores.

Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar have played over 260 Tests between them and each has an average in excess of 50 - a fact that may also appeal to buyers of their individual runs.

India are going well under the management of South African Gary Kirsten who officially took charge at the start of March 2008; just in time for the start of a series against the country of his birth and most recent clash between the two nations.

Those looking to buy South Africa's win index will know that they claimed two wins and a draw to take that series undefeated. India also lost the following series in Sri Lanka, but managed to pick-up their first Test win under Kirsten as they went down 2-1 over the three matches.

However, since the summer of 2008 their results have improved dramatically, wining each of the subsequent series' against Australia (2-0), England (1-0) New Zealand (1-0), Sri Lanka (2-0) and, most recently, Bangladesh (2-0). This undefeated spell has, as regular buyers of their win index and first innings supremacy will testify, seen consistent big victories.

By contrast, South Africa's form has levelled-off after a surge that saw them climb the ICC Test rankings. Many of those looking to sell their first innings supremacy for either fixture in this series will recall an inability to finish off an England side that escaped back to the northern hemisphere with a 1-1 draw, despite having been dominated and outplayed in three of four matches.