India toured South Africa for its bilateral series in 1992-93. South Africa won the seires 1-0. Captains: Mohd Azharuddin and Clive Rice. Kepler Wessels became the first international cricketer to represent two countries (Australia and South Africa) and also made a timely century in that Test.

Now, India and South Africa are set to play a full series (72-day tour) which will include four Tests, five ODIs and three T20 Internationals starting on October 2.

It will be indeed a litmus Test for the young Indian Test captain Virat Kohli. South Africa is led by Hashim Amla in Tests, AB De Villiers in ODIs and Faf du Plessis in the T20s.

Ahead of this mammoth series, we give you look at The Hindu's coverage of the historic first Test in 1992 and the numbers that the two cricketing nations have stacked up since then.

From the archives of The Hindu: India's tour of South Africa in 1992-93

>Preview: It's South African scything pace vs Indian batting flair

>First Day: Kepler Wessels' rare distinction

>Second Day: South Africa gains day's honours; India in dire straits

>Third Day: Amre to India's rescue with maiden Test century

>Fourth Day: Bad light & rain ruin fourth day's play

>Fifth Day: Historic game meanders to a draw

>Post-match conference: A fair result

Indian captains to lead against South Africa

Mohammad Azharuddin was the first Indian captain to tour South Africa after it was reinducted into international arena.

India vs South Africa: The numbers since 1992

Tests: 29

India won 7 South Africa 13 Drawn 9 - In India: Total 12 Tests South Africa won 5 India won 5 Drawn 2 In South Africa: Total 17 Tests South Africa won 8 India won 2 Drawn 7

Lowest total by India: 66 at Durban and 76 at Ahmedabad.

Lowest total by South Africa: 84 at Johannesburg and 105 at Ahmedabad.

ODIs: 71

India won: 26 South Afrifca won 42 No Result: 3 -- ODIs in India: 23 India won 13 South Africa won 10 -- ODIs in South Africa: 28: India won 5 South Africa won 21 No Result: 2 ODIs in neutral venues: 20 India won 8 South Africa won 11 No Result: 1

Top four Highest partnerships:

340 between Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis at Nagpur in February 2010 for the third wicket.

268 between Virendra Sehwag and Rahul Dravid at Chennai in March 2008 for the second wicket.

Unbeaten 259 run partnership between VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni at Kolkata in February 2010 for the seventh wicket

256 between Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers at Ahmedabad in April 2008 for the fifth wicket.

Best bowling: ( In a match)

Allan Donald : 55-15-139-12 at Port Elizabeth, December 1992.

Dale Steyn : 34.5-7-108-10 at Nagpur, February 2010.

Shaun Pollock : 48.4-18-147-10 at Bloemfontein, November 2001.

Venkatesh Prasad : 44-10-153-10 at Durban, December 1996.

Best Bowling (In an Innings)

Lance Klusner : 21.3-4-64-8, Kolkata, November 1996.

Most wickets (50+ wickets)

Anil Kumble : Total 21 tests, 84 wickets

Javagal Srinath: Total 13 tests, 64 wickets

Allan Donald: Total 11 tests, 57 wickets

Highest scores (150+ scores)

319 by Virendra Sehwag (304b, 42x4, 5x6), Chennai, March 2008.

253 not out by Hashim Amla (473b, 22x4, 0x6), Nagpur, February 2008.

217 not out by AB de Villiers (333b, 17x4, 2x6), Ahmedabad, April 2008.

173 by Jacques Kallis (351b, 15x4, 2x6), Nagpur, Febuary 2010.

196 by Herschelle Gibbs (354b, 25x4, 1x6), Port Elizabeth, November 2001.

169 by Sachin Tendulkar (254b, 26x4), Cape Town, January 1997.

Most runs

1415 runs in 22 tests by Sachin Tendulkar

1162 runs in 12 tests by Virendra Sehwag

1132 runs in 18 tests by Rahul Dravid

1087 runs in 13 tests by Jacques Kallis

947 runs in 17 tests by Sourav Ganguly.

Highest totals

643/6d by India in 153.0 overs at Kolkata, February 2010.

627/10 by India in 155.1 overs at Chennai, March 2008.

563/10 by South Africa in 143.o ovs at Bloemfontein, November 2001.

558/6d by South Africa in 176.0 ovs at Nagpur, February 2010..

India-South Africa series Fact files » India first toured South Africa in 1992-93. South Africa won its first Test series 1-0. The four Test series started on November 13, 1992 and ended on January 6, 1993. The captains were Mohd Azharuddin and Clive Rice. Kepler Wessels became the first international cricketer to represent two countries i.e. Australia and South Africa.

India first toured South Africa in 1992-93. South Africa won its first Test series 1-0. The four Test series started on November 13, 1992 and ended on January 6, 1993. The captains were Mohd Azharuddin and Clive Rice. Kepler Wessels became the first international cricketer to represent two countries i.e. Australia and South Africa. » South Africa then toured India in 1996. The tour was a three Test series. India won the series 2-1. The captains were Sachin Tendulkar and Hansie Cronje (South Africa).

South Africa then toured India in 1996. The tour was a three Test series. India won the series 2-1. The captains were Sachin Tendulkar and Hansie Cronje (South Africa). » The Indian team visited South Africa in 1996-97. The tour started on December 26, 1996 and ended on January 20, 1997. South Africa won the three Test series 2-0. India showed pathetic display in the first Test at Durban by being bundled out for 100 and 66.

The Indian team visited South Africa in 1996-97. The tour started on December 26, 1996 and ended on January 20, 1997. South Africa won the three Test series 2-0. India showed pathetic display in the first Test at Durban by being bundled out for 100 and 66. » Mohammad Azharuddin was the first Indian captain to tour South Africa after it was reinducted into international arena.

Mohammad Azharuddin was the first Indian captain to tour South Africa after it was reinducted into international arena. » The series in 1992-93 was even more historic as Kapil Dev removed Jimmy Cook off the very first delivery of the series.

The series in 1992-93 was even more historic as Kapil Dev removed Jimmy Cook off the very first delivery of the series. » In the Twenty20 Internationals, out of 7 matches, India won 5 and South Africa won 2.

In the Twenty20 Internationals, out of 7 matches, India won 5 and South Africa won 2. » The total number of one-day international played between India and South Africa till now were 71 out of which India won 26, South Africa 42 and no result 3. >Gurkeerat for ODIs, Arvind recalled Patil quickly scoffed rumours about doubts centred around Dhoni’s role as skipper in the shorter formats. >Three spinners in South Africa squad for Test series against India "We want to keep all our options open for the Test Series," commented CSA selection convener, Linda Zondi. >Jadeja returns to Test squad The 26-year-old Jadeja was the only change in the Test squad that had last played against Sri Lanka in an away series. > Tahir could be one of the leading bowlers in the series: Tendulkar Tendulkar said that A.B. de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Dale Styen and Morne Morkel would be the players to look out for.

India-South Africa clashes >The Proteas are back For decades, India and South Africa had no ties. The Indian passport was "Valid for all countries except Rhodesia and South Africa". >India has a few loose ends to tie up The India-South Africa clash, the first of the last four duels, at the Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday, holds intriguing possibilities. >Kallis is a class act in grand theatre The Indian bowlers had not accounted for a man named Jacques Kallis and they came a cropper when challenged by his experience, technical excellence and class. >The comeback of a captain Sourav Ganguly, seemed to have derived immense motivation after a visit to the historic Pietermaritzburg near Durban.