South Africa vs India 2018: 5 reasons why India can beat SA in the Test series

After a long home season where India showed their dominance against all oppositions, it’s now time for them to play cricket overseas. They start the New Year with a three-match Test series against South Africa in South Africa.

India haven’t won a Test series in the rainbow nation, and they would be eager to continue the good form they showed at home when they play on swinging, bouncy tracks there and hope of breaking their duck.

Virat Kohli’s men definitely can pose a threat to South Africa, and here’s looking at why they can beat SA in the Test series starting December 5 onwards.

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#1 Virat Kohli- The batsman and captain

It’s always a good sign when the touring side is led by someone who is at the peak of his abilities as a captain and batsman. He has amassed runs at will and has led emphatically with his bat.

Not one to hold back as a captain, his aggression has passed on to his team as now this Indian team exudes confidence and self-belief. Everyone is aware of where they stand personally and know how to utilise their strengths.

A lot of this can be attributed to the fact that Virat Kohli has set such high standards, be it with his batting, captaincy or team selection over the past 12-15 months.

India haven’t had much of a challenge overseas recently but they dominated West Indies and Sri Lanka in away conditions. That confidence will hold this Indian team in good stead when they face the Proteas.

With such a confident, aggressive and talented player as their captain and premier batsman, this Indian team has the potential to pose South Africa lot of challenges. It’s about how fast they can adapt to the conditions which would define who will go on to win the series.

#2 Batsmen possess technique and skill to succeed in SA conditions

One of the reasons India has struggled in South Africa over the years is the inability of their batsmen to adapt to the tough, bouncy conditions offered to them. But looking at this Indian batting line-up, things might change in this series.

With the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane this batting line-up possesses the right quantity of technique and skill to thrive in tough conditions.

Each batsman has immense talent, a wide array of shots, and most importantly self-confidence. All of these qualities would be required in abundance when they come up against SA in the Test series.

And players like Ajinkya Rahane and Pujara have tasted a lot of success overseas so far in their career. Rahane has performed better away from home, this makes their batting line-up look that much stronger.

This batting line up consists of players who, on any given day, can bat out a lot of overs patiently and the same time can accelerate at will. This ability to switch gears and put the opposition under immense pressure is something which can rattle South Africa.

#3 A well-balanced team

Ravichandran Ashwin adds to the balance of this team

On most tours overseas or in specific South Africa, India’s defiance usually rests solely on one player. And if he fails, then the team crumbles under the pressure created by opposition bowlers. The teams who toured SA previously lacked the perfect balance to succeed in those conditions.

This Indian team is different in that regard. As they have a team which bats almost upto number 11. Every batsman puts a price on his wicket and contributes to the team’s success.

In Sri Lanka or West Indies, we got to see the likes of Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin and Wridhiman Saha score big runs which decimated the opposition’s confidence and momentum.

South Africa is known to be a well-balanced unit always, and looking at this Indian team we can say for sure that two well-balanced teams are going to face off against each other.

This Indian team is not dependent on one batsman to guide them or rescue them. Every batsman is capable in his own right and has had his fair share of success overseas.

#4 Team’s morale and confidence is high

The Indian team's morale and confidence is high

You don't see and Indian team touring South Africa as the number 1 Test team in the world. The Men in Blue have not lost a Test series in some time (including both home and away).

This would certainly boost the morale of the team ahead of such a tough Test series. They say winning is a habit tough and India have been winning Test matches on a fairly consistent basis recent times.

When the chips are down, the team’s morale and the self-belief of the players in their ability would come in handy. This team has got a lot of self-belief and they come across as a very confident team who know where they belong.

They would definitely look at continuing on this positive momentum they have gained in recent times. This confidence and belief within the team gives India an added boost which they could use to defeat South Africa in their home conditions.

All-rounders make this team look stronger

Hardik Pandya- One of the key players, a quality all-rounder

Very few Indian teams can boast of having quality all-rounders in their side. But this team has three quality, confident all-rounders in the form of Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Keeping the conditions which are expected in South Africa in mind, Pandya and Ashwin are sure to make it to the playing XI. Hardik Pandya can be devastating with the bat in Test matches as Sri Lanka found that out recently. Not to forget his effective medium-fast bowling which can be used to support the other fast bowlers in the team.

Ravichandran Ashwin has improved tremendously as a cricketer in recent times. His bowling has single-handedly decimated oppositions but off-late Ashwin has added vital runs too. He has been sent ahead of the wicket-keeper Wridhiman Saha which emphasises his rise as an all-rounder in the Test team.

The presence of both these all-rounders makes the Indian team look more potent overseas. The key to India’s success in the test series against South Africa would be how quickly Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin can contribute either with the bat or ball.

The fact that they are multi-dimensional players makes them vital to India’s success in the upcoming Test series and other overseas tours in the near future.