India bid to make history

– Virat Kohli’s (below) India head for a gruelling tour of South Africa today looking for a record-breaking 10th straight Test series triumph, but they will have to overcome a reputation for being bad travellers.

India, who beat New Zealand, England and Australia in a powerful home season to consolidate their No 1 Test ranking, celebrated their last major away victory in 2008/2009 when they beat the Kiwis 1-0 in a three-Test series.

“Looking forward to the South Africa tour, it’s going to be a different challenge,” said Rohit Sharma, who captained their limited-overs side in Kohli’s recent absence.

“But I want to reiterate about our home season, it’s never easy to beat anyone. We were challenged at different times and we came back.”

Overseas success against weakened West Indies and Sri Lanka sides in the past two years, and India’s invincibility at home, has led pundits to back Kohli’s side to put up a strong challenge to South Africa, who are second in the Test rankings and have never lost to India at home.

India will play three Tests, six one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches during the two-month tour. The series begins with the first Test in Cape Town on January 5.

The Indians, once labelled “tigers at home and lambs abroad” in Test cricket, have a chance of breaking new ground in South Africa’s den.

India are pinning their hopes on the pace quartet of Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to make an impact.

The fast bowlers played a significant role during India’s 1-0 win over Sri Lanka as they equalled Australia’s record of nine Test series victories between 2005-2008.

Promising fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who awaits his Test debut, and Hardik Pandya also add to India’s pace brigade to match Proteas’ attack of Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn. – AFP