World No. 1 India takes on No. 2
South Africa in an eagerly awaited 3-Test series, beginning in Cape Town today. India was dominant in 2017, swatting Australia and Bangladesh at home and Sri Lanka both in Lanka and India. But South Africa, thirsting for revenge after a 3-0 thrashing on its last visit to India, presents a formidable challenge. History isn't India's ally; it has never won a Test series in South Africa and triumphed in only 2 out of 17 Tests. But then, this is a brave new team and far stranger things have happened in cricket.
ALSO READ:
Can Virat Kohli's India upstage bustling South Africa?
Here are five reasons India can dare to dream In South Africa:
1. Kohli, Batter & Captain
When
Virat Kohli is on song, India looks a different team. Kohli doesn't just score runs; he sets the terms of engagement, pins down the opposition. Kohli's hunger for runs is matched only by his inexhaustible will and ambition as captain. His incredible self-belief, never-back-down style and hard taskmaster methods have transformed India into a lean, mean and ruthless unit.
ALSO READ:
Indian team skips practice, Kohli skips media session
2. Finest Ever Indian Pace Attack
Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah. From swing to sheer pace to awkward bounce, India for once has all angles covered. This is India's finest pace ensemble in its 85-year-old Test history. On paper, the rivals - Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander - look more incisive. But the Indians can match them bouncer for bouncer.
3. Quality Batsmen
Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane all have decent records abroad, though each must improve his showing in South Africa. ODI record-breaker Rohit Sharma also looks better placed to succeed in Tests than ever before. Now, the batting line-up needs to deliver.
ALSO READ:
India need to hit ground running in the first Test
4. Variety Show
India has better spinners (Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja). After a long time, it has a genuine batting all-rounder in Hardik Pandya. And it has a gritty wicketkeeperbatsman (Wriddhiman Saha), who's highly rated by experts.
5. South Africa's Own Problems
AB de Villiers is just back from a Test sabbatical. Dale Steyn is feeling his way back from a potentially career-ending injury. And a severe drought in Cape Town means the wicket for at least the first Test may not be as bouncy as usual
POTENTIAL PITFALLS
- Records show India holds only 42% of potential catches in slips, while South Africa averages 66%. On tracks where such catches come thick and fast, India can't afford to make bowlers create two opportunities for each wicket
- Getting wickets off no-balls has been a recurring Indian ailment
- Rahane's poor form against Sri Lanka is a concern. But he has performed better overseas than at home. India desperately needs the trend to continue
