In spite of facing one of the weakest-ever South African teams, India still couldn’t register their maiden Test series win on South African soil two years ago. Just like it was then, South Africa remain a side going through a rebuilding phase with batting continuing to be their weak link.
So again, India, this time under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, will have a fair enough chance to do something that no other Indian team has been able to achieve in South Africa.
The first Test at the Centurion beginning on Tuesday will be skipper Rohit’s first on-field appearance since India’s disappointing ODI World Cup final loss to Australia last month. Also, no longer being captain of the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians, has tried to clog his mind but Rohit seems focused solely on winning a Test series in South Africa for the first time ever.
In the first place though, he had clearly told the assembled journalists at the team hotel: “No questions on the IPL.”
Talking about the series, he said: “These are very important matches in terms of where we stand as a team. Also, to look back that we have never won a series here as well, it’s a big opportunity for us to do well.
“We came pretty close the last two times when we toured here. But again, we have come to this place with a lot of confidence to try and achieve what no Indian team has ever achieved in this part of the world. That’s the goal.”
Will the Test series victory act as a balm for the ODI Cup final defeat? “I don’t know whether a Test series win in South Africa can be a balm for a World Cup final defeat. I mean World Cup is World Cup.
“Itni mehnaat ki haai, kuch toh result milein. (We’ve been working so hard, so it’s time we get some results at least). We all want that,” Rohit answered.
Batting-wise, Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja do have a fair knowledge of the South African conditions, while it will be a first-time experience for the likes of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rohit though backed the two youngsters to come good, but with the ball, India will certainly be missing Mohammed Shami, who had played a key role in their win at the Centurion back in December 2021.
Shami is out of the series with a left-heel injury. “What he has done for our team over the years, obviously it’s a big miss. But someone will come in place of him, try and fill in that role. It won’t be easy, but we have confidence,” Rohit stated.
“Prasidh (Krishna) extracts a lot of bounce due to his height while Mukesh (Kumar) can swing the ball. “We were supposed to have a look at the pitch today (Monday) and decide whether we want someone to bowl up or back. Around 75 per cent of that is decided and we ‘ll do the rest tomorrow (Tuesday).”
A query on whether Rohit and the other seniors in the team see themselves in next year’s T20 World Cup was obvious. “I’ll play whatever cricket is there in front of me. We are all desperate to play cricket.
“I know what you are trying to ask. You will get an answer. You will,” Rohit replied.
