Team India on the cusp of a historic record in Test cricket

After crushing South Africa in the first Test at Visakhapatnam by 203 runs, Team India will take the field in the second Test at the MCA Stadium in Pune on October 10. 

In the first Test, the hosts were too good for the Proteas, who battled hard in the first innings, but failed to hold their fort in the second innings. 

The visitors were rendered helpless in the second innings with Indian spinners inflicting most of the damage along with a decimating spell from Mohammad Shami. 

However, with two matches still to go in the three-match series, the visitors would want to spring a quick turnaround before the second Test. 

On the other hand, India will look to continue their dominant run in this format in their own conditions. They will once again go into the Test match as favourites, considering Proteas' poor record in Asian conditions. 

As the hosts prepare for the second Test, a win at Pune will ensure a historic feat for the Virat Kohli-led side in Test cricket. 

In India's last 30 Test matches at home, the hosts have conceded a solitary match to Australia in 2017, while they have won 24 games including five drawn matches. 

This record in itself, speaks volumes of India's performances at home since 2013. 

None of the teams have been able to breach India's fort in conditions that are conducive to spin bowling. Since 2013, India have ensured six clean sweep victories out of the ten series played on home soil. 

Only Australia, in 2017, came close to giving a tough fight to the Indians despite losing 2-1 in a closely-contested 4-match series. 

India have won each of their last ten Test series at home, making it the joint-most successive series wins for any team. 

In the past, Australia have managed to repeat this feat twice in the period between 1994-2001 and 2004-2008. However, the Kangaroos failed to stretch their winning streak to 11 series wins on both the occasions. 

A golden opportunity awaits Kohli and his men if they can return undefeated in the second Test at Pune. This will end up becoming an all-time record for most successive Test series wins for any nation on their home soil. 

If India can win the ongoing series against South Africa, this will also consolidate their numero uno position in the ICC Test Championship for quite some time in the future.