Unlike previous Indian teams, this line-up has all its bases covered
VIRAT KOHLI has been captain of India in 30 Tests. He has led the team on a further two occasions as a stand-in for MS Dhoni.
In that period, India have triumphed in 20 Tests and not lost a series in three years. But, like his predecessors, he yearns for elusive success away from the turning tracks of home. There have been victories in Sri Lanka and the West Indies, but it is the scalp of one of the “big three” that Kohli craves. India visit England and Australia over the course of the next year after their South African safari.
Kohli is already a mega-star of Indian cricket and victory in SA could virtually grant him immortal status.
He did not come to the pre-match press conference yesterday, with batting coach Sanjay Bangar sent instead, but there’s no doubt that while taking in the glorious sunshine at one of Cape Town’s prestigious beaches he would have been thinking the time to re-write history had arrived.
Unlike previous teams to have arrived on SA shores, this Indian side have all their bases covered. The galaxy of classy batsmen is still there like before, but they are now much more comfortable – or at least they profess to be – in adapting to the pace and bounce that SA surfaces routinely serve up.
No longer does the sight of green grass create the sense of fear.
Equally, the tourists have a pace bowling unit that can now exploit the favourable seaming conditions almost just as much as their hosts. The all-round talents of Hardik Pandya, who is a hard-hitting, fast-bowling prodigy, add to the balance.
On India’s last tour to SA – although truncated to just two Tests – India showed massive signs of improvement. They had their hosts on the ropes for most of the Wanderers Test, but were ultimately unable to deliver the knockout blow before just surviving being counted out themselves after a superb century from now Proteas captain Faf du Plessis.
Unfortunately, they could not follow that up in Durban with another big performance when the euphoric wave of Jacques Kallis’ retirement was just too much to handle.
Duncan Fletcher was the coach at the time, and after years spent in SA in charge of Western Province, would have been wellversed in the conditions.
Kohli doesn’t have Fletcher by his side this time around, but does have Ravi Shastri’s vast experience and knowledge to count on.
“Ravi has been there for such a long period of time. He has a wealth of experience, not only in playing 80 Tests but also as a broadcaster for 25-30 years. So he has seen a lot of cricket and his experience is really vital in making decisions,” Bangar said.
The last word, though, does belong to Kohli who senses his team’s destiny is fast approaching.
“We are looking at this phase as a time we will remember forever for the rest of our lives,” Kohli said on India’s arrival in SA last Saturday. “We want to enjoy playing together. That has been the highlight of this team. The team spirit is the standout feature.”
There’s no doubt their “team spirit” will be tested over the coming months, starting at Newlands this morning.