Proteas' home dominance versus India's slow rise: Has the South African press been over-aggressive?

The South African press on India's rise in 2010-11

MS Dhoni led India twice to South Africa (2010-11 and 2013-14)

The article below titled, "Get ready for a series to savor", describes India's effort in the 2006-07 series against South Africa.

Dated December 10, 2010, the article reads, "The skies were moody grey and there was moisture in the air, not rain but the kind of heavy humidity for which Durban is renowned. Virender Sehwag slashed at his first ball and was caught at second slip."

"It was the second Test of India’s tour three years ago and the Proteas won it to square the series after an embarrassing display in the first Test at the Wanderers. They won the decider, too, on a dramatic final day at Newlands to make it four series wins out of four against India on South African soil since the “Friendship Tour” of 1992/1993."

"It may be grossly unfair to single out Sehwag for criticism given that no Indian batsmen in the preceding 15 years barring, perhaps, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar, had looked at ease against fast bowling on South African pitches, but he looked particularly stomachless when it came to the fight. So much so that he was removed from the top of the order and hidden at number seven for the third Test (from where he threw his wicket away once again on 40)."

Quoting Gary Kirsten (Indian coach for the series) the article says, “It’s no secret that in the past some Indian teams and players have been more concerned with their individual glory and success than that of the group but that has changed to the opposite extreme in the last 12 or 18 months,” Kirsten said. “The guys all know that they are number one in the world because they are a team, not a collection of talented individuals.”

The question below is then asked to Gary Kirsten:

"Apart from the great Australian team of the late 1990s and early 2000s, no touring team has ever arrived on these shores as favourites. Could this Indian team be regarded as such?"

“Absolutely ridiculous, of course not,” says Kirsten. “They have the chance to become one of the greatest Indian teams ever if they can win here, but they are going to have to dig as deep— deeper, probably — as they have ever done before. All of those moments of pain will have to be confronted and everyone will have to think of the team before they decide how they are going to react.”

The above article helps shed light on the importance the South Africans attach to preserving their dominance at home and their unwavering faith that the same is under no threat from Team India.

India's recent performance will no doubt sow seeds of doubt in this regard and dent South Africa's confidence to some degree.

So, is Kohli's side the best ever in overseas conditions?