India vs South Africa: Top-five South Africans to watch out for

Arguably India's biggest challenge in recent times, the Men in Blue travel to South Africa for three ODIs and two Tests. Here is a look at the top five South Africans who are expected to set the stage on fire:

Graeme Smith

With a slew of captaincy records to his name, Graeme Smith has fought many battles in his eleven-year career, and won most. The captain of the best side in Test cricket, Smith leads with authority, magnified by his sheer size, and maturity, a trait developed since he was handed the reins at the tender age of 22.

With some of the best talents in world cricket at his disposal, Smith is no mug with the bat either. He has over 9000 runs in 112 Tests and is just 11 runs away from 7000 in ODIs. Smith however has never scored a Test century against India in 13 attempts, something he would love to change in the upcoming series. His ODI record versus India is not great either, with just one century in 18 games, which came way back in Kolkata in 2005.

A courageous cricketer, a trait proved when he batted with a broken hand against Australia in the fabled Sydney test in 2009, Smith is determined to tame the mighty Indians on his home turf.

Dale Steyn

The non-strikers end would be the most preferred position for most batsmen when Dale Steyn is operating with the ball. With searing pace, deadly accuracy and scorching eyes, Steyn is the diamond-coated arrow of the South African bowling attack.

With doubt the best fast bowler in Tests, the 30-year-old has a staggering 340 wickets in just 67 Tests at an average of 22.65. Six out of India's top seven batsmen are right-handers, and Steyn will be licking his lips at the prospect of bowling his feared out-swinger. In ten Tests against India, Steyn has taken 53 wickets at a miserly average of 19.

As cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle puts it, "It is human nature to underrate the present and grossly overrate the past, but if you outlaw that trait, the time has come to place Dale Steyn among the greatest."

Jacques Kallis

A man mountain of a cricketer, Jacques Kallis is the last of an era featuring the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara and Shane Warne. The 38-year-old is a classical player in the truest sense of the term, and provides a reassurance with both bat and ball. It is often said that Sachin's record of 51 Test centuries can never be broken. If anyone can, it is Kallis, who has 44 and is two years younger than the Master Blaster.

With an average of 72 in 16 Tests, the Indians might already be sickened by the sight of Kallis. On India's previous tour in 2010-11, Kallis scored two centuries and one double century in the drawn two-Test series. In ODIs vs India, Kallis averages almost 66 in 35 matches. A true legend of the game, India has borne the brunt of the colossal carnage dished out by a rather mild-mannered 'bully'.

Kallis has only recently returned after an extended break from the game and is raring to go against the Indians.

AB de Villiers

There are some who work day in, day out at their game and there are some who possess the natural flair and talent to succeed. AB de Villiers is clearly the latter. This is not to say he doesn't work hard, he just makes it look easy. A batsman-wicketkeeper and an excellent fielder, De Villiers has lit up the cricketing world with enterprise and grace.

The 29-year-old was the first South African to score a double century against India in Tests, an unbeaten 217 in Ahmedabad in 2008. His Test average of 37.5 against India does not speak volumes of his ability, but it would be folly to underestimate the most thrilling South African in the upcoming series. De Villiers captains the ODI team and his first challenge would be victory in the three-match series.

There aren't many in world cricket who captivates imagination like De Villiers. Equally dangerous with the bat, gloves and while fielding, his strength lies well beneath a charming smile.

Hashim Amla

Among the top three players in world cricket currently, Hashim Amla is likely to give MS Dhoni and company sleepless nights in South Africa. An opening batsman in ODIs and the No.3 in Tests, Amla is a constant (thorn or otherwise) in the South African side - his reliability complementing the fighter Graeme Smith, the forceful Jacques Kallis and the thrilling AB de Villiers.

In 71 Tests, Amla has 5913 runs at an average of 52.32. Amazingly, his average in ODIs is greater than in Tests, 53.26. A model of consistency, the 30-year-old has scored over 1100 runs in 12 Tests against India, at an average of over 60 with five centuries. When the Proteas toured India in early 2010 for two Tests, Amla scored three centuries, including a sensational 253 at Nagpur.

Buoyed by the recent birth of his second child, Amla is primed to drive the Indian bowling to dust.