Johannesburg: India's formidably consistent match-winners have a date with history in the New Year when they take on an out-of-sorts South Africa in the second Test here from Monday in pursuit of a coveted first-ever series win in the 'Rainbow Nation'.
If the 'Boxing Day Test' was used to breach the Proteas' fortress at the Centurion, the New Year's game will be all about stoutly defending the 'Bull Ring' bastion which has been a 'home' away from home for the Indian team.
Also, it was right here in 2018 when the foundation of one of India's greatest Test teams was laid with a solid win on a track that bordered on under-prepared and perhaps gave this unit self belief to take on the world.
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They have been doing that for nearly four years now and are in no mood to stop.
For captain Virat Kohli, a Test victory at the Wanderers would reaffirm his status as one of the greatest Indian captains of all time in the traditional format with series wins in three of the four SENA nations barring New Zealand.
There cannot be a more opportune time to achieve the feat against a South African side that lacks Graeme Smith's grit, Hashim Amla's class, Jacques Kalllis' manic consistency, Dale Steyn's x-factor and Morne Morkel's relentlessness.
To be fair, this South African team will find it incredibly difficult to compete against the current Indian line-up leave alone harbour dreams of a win.
Yes, they have a Kagiso Rabada, who is carrying the load, and Lungi Ngidi, who has looked good, but Quinton de Kock's sudden retirement from the toughest form of cricket at the age of 29 is another reminder of a tough transition period that never seems to end for the Proteas.
So even if Ryan Rickleton, the 25-year-old dashing keeper-batter who is slated to make his debut, created some noise, he will find that scoring runs at the domestic level is very different from facing Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami with the red Kookaburra.
Even Duanne Oliver, likely to replace Wiaan Mulder who was out due to a hamstring injury in the first Test, will find it extremely difficult against a seasoned Indian batting line-up which would like to give a better account of itself compared to the first Test.
On a personal note for Kohli, it would be the ideal breathing space that he will require, now that it's official that he is no longer the establishment's blue-eyed boy after his much publicised battle of "your truth versus mine" with no less than BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.
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Kohli the batter is still insulated from the heat despite that missing 'three-figure mark' for last two years but 'King Kohli is metaphorically "wearing a crown of thorns".