Indian cricket begins life without the "Little Master" tomorrow night, taking on top-ranked South Africa in the first of a two-test series in their first contest since Sachin Tendulkar's retirement last month.
The absence of international cricket's most prolific batsman is just one of several concerns for captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ahead of the series opener at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
The speed, bounce and swing of South Africa's all-pace attack saw India's batsmen struggle in three one-day internationals between the two sides over the last fortnight, and India's bowlers were also treated with disdain.
The much anticipated test series was reduced to two matches following a spat between the controlling bodies of world's top two test nations.
