Can India upstage South Africa?

Cape Town: Towering giants in the sub-continent, India would be aiming to assert themselves as good travellers when they face South Africa in the opening chapter of a 12-Test overseas challenge, starting here on Thursday.

The three-Test South Africa series is the first of a grueling 2018-19 season that includes tours to England and Australia.

The assignments are being seen as a make or break season for Virat Kohli and his men to prove their worth as a good travelling unit. But for this, they will have to rely heavily on their pacers to come good.

As the numero uno Test side, India have a healthy points’ lead over second-ranked South Africa and will not lose their crown even if they lose by a landslide 0-3 margin. This, however, is not merely about points and rankings for Kohli’s side.

The Proteas will be relying on their formidable fast bowling attack to dismantle India’s strong batting line-up, but after nine successive Test series wins, India are brimming  with confidence and a belief that they can thrive in any conditions.

Six of India’s series wins have come at home and three others — two in Sri Lanka and one in the West Indies — were in favourable conditions.

India last lost a series in 2014-15 when they were beaten 2-0 in Australia in a four-Test contest.

India boast of a poor record in South Africa as they lost five out of six series with one drawn. Since 1992, India have only won two out of 17 Tests played on South African soil — in 2006-07 under Rahul Dravid and in 2010-11 under M.S. Dhoni.

Significantly, though, the Indians have pushed South Africa hard on their two most recent tours — in 2010-11 and 2013-14, sharing the first series and narrowly losing the second.

Thirteen players of India’s 2013-14 side are part of the current squad they have become a vastly more experienced team, which has become accustomed to winning.

As fas as the venue is concerned, India have never won in four Tests here at Newlands, losing twice and drawing on the other two occasions.

And it remains to be seen if Kohli can do one better, in not only winning a third-ever Test in the Proteas’ backyard but also setting a noteworthy tone for India’s arduous overseas cycle.

This time around, India boasts of a potent pace attack which is capable of dismantling any batting side. Despite the prevalent drought here, the green-top Newlands wicket continues to be at the centre of attention.