Bengaluru, Nov 5: South African captain Temba Bavuma does not foresee the upcoming Test series against India become an easier assignment due to retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma but he feels his team has a stronger chance of winning on these shores after 25 years thanks to its quality spin attack.
The Bavuma-led South Africans will be aiming to register the first series win against India since Hansie Cronje’s band conquered the sub-continent in 1999-2000 season. The two-match rubber begins November 14 in Kolkata.
“I think as a South African team, I don’t think we’ve won a Test series here in India for a long time. So, I think there’s a massive opportunity there and I think there’s a big target on our backs as a South African Test team. I think there’s expectation on us (as world champions),” Bavuma said.
One of the weaknesses that Bavuma would like to exploit is Indian batters’ recent discomfort against quality spin. Their travails against New Zealand spinners last year have not escaped his eyes.
“Bowling has always been a strength of ours as a team. Now, we’re probably even better poised with those spin resources. We have Tristan Stubbs as well, if we do need another off-spinner, he can come in with something different,” he noted. (PTI)
