Cricket: Duo face intriguing battle against India

In-form Indian batsman Virat Kohli is growing in maturity and assurance. Photo / AP

The top-of-the-rankings South Africa-India test series has highlighted the most intriguing battle of the cricketing summer for New Zealand fans - how Trent Boult and Tim Southee will fare against the in-form Indian middle order of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.

Boult and Southee, ranked 10th and 13th in the world after their West Indies wickets heist, are in exacting form. If Santa has delivered greenish pitches for them, it will enhance an already absorbing contest provided they keep bowling fuller length deliveries to best accentuate swing.

They are capable of disturbing any batting line-up. In 2013, Boult took 46 wickets at 25.08 including 10-80 against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve; Southee took 36 wickets at 24.94 including 10-108 against England at Lord's.

But Pujara, Kohli and Sharma (7th, 11th and 46th in the world) provide a steep test. The transition from Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman - the previous 3, 4 and 5 to visit New Zealand - has been seamless, even with the hoopla surrounding Tendulkar's exit in November.

Generating movement rather than pace will mean everything, judging by how Pujara and Kohli dispatched Dale Steyn, Vern Philander and Morne Morkel in Johannesburg last week. Kohli had a century and 96 in the drawn first test; he made 46 (Pujara 70) in the second as India were 334 all out, with Steyn having to work hard for his six wickets for 100.

It's hard to pick which of Kohli and Pujara is better. Kohli gets the nod by virtue of his onside play, aggressive attitude and he has form against New Zealand - scoring a century and two fifties last year. Their averages - Kohli's was 45.31 in 21 tests before Durban and Pujara was 67.63 in 16 - beg to differ and Pujara also has a ton against New Zealand. Kohli's growing maturity and assurance (replacing youthful arrogance) have already led to "the next Tendulkar" comparisons.

A pivotal moment came as Kohli eased to his fifth test century in the first innings (the 25-year-old has never had a century in an Indian second innings). Steyn delivered at 144km/h; Kohli rocked back and pulled him flush through square leg, rolling his wrists as a flourish. Short leg Hashim Amla's life insurance policy must have flashed as quickly as the ball before his eyes.

Naturally Kohli got a Steyn gobful, as is fast bowler protocol, but he'd made a point. Note to Southee and Boult: drop short at your peril.

Similarly, they would be wise to pitch up to Pujara, as they found when he compiled his maiden century during his fourth test in August last year. He has a reputation for relying on his bottom hand but his temperament is implacable.

The 25-year-old has three first-class triple centuries while two of his six test tons have been doubles. Dravid was known as The Wall at first drop; India might have replaced him with The Rock. Pujara's cuts (both square and late) and general ability to play the ball late under his eyes are a technical highlight; he lasers shots anywhere from cover to backward point, particularly off the back foot, and works the ball well into the legside when it drifts onto his pads.

Rohit Sharma is not to be forgotten. At 26, he's playing only his fourth test but has 114 ODIs and 36 T20s. He failed in Johannesburg and had a duck in the second test but posted 111 not out and 177 in his first two tests against the West Indies.