India have not played any cricket at home since Sri Lanka last paid a visit in November 2014, but the men in blue are all set to host South Africa for a huge series, which will feature three T20Is, five ODIs and four Test matches, staring this October.
The series between the two heavyweights of world cricket is expected to be an interesting one with some high-quality cricket in the offing. Former South African chinaman bowler, Paul Adams, believes South Africa will fancy their chances against India in the Test series.
"I think it is going to be a very interesting series. India and South Africa have always competed well and we'll definitely have a hardfought four-match Test series. South Africa have done well all around the world and going by the strength of the side this time around, they'll fancy their chances in India as well," Paul Adams told The Times of India.
South Africa, without a shadow of doubt, are one of best teams in world cricket, irrespective of the conditions. They have a balanced team with quality batsmen and bowlers. With Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers leading the respective bowling and batting departments, India have reasons to worry, despite playing at home.
The Proteas are coming in well prepared for the series as well, as they have picked three spinners in their squad, which is rather interesting considering South Africa having relied on their pace attack for many a year.
Adams, though, believes, South Africa will play with three seamers. Considering India's performances against spinners are always better when compared to seamers, it makes sense to have three pacers in the playing eleven.
"The team has generally relied on their seamers to do most of the damage, even in the subcontinent," Adams added. "With JP Duminy returning to the side, they have some spin options as Dean Elgar can also bowl some leftarm spin.
"They have picked three spinners [Imran Tahir, Dane Piedt and Simon Harmer] in the squad but I think they'll opt to play with three seamers and bat deep in the Tests."
India, who have always relied on their spinners in home conditions, will once again depend on the services of Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh. Ashwin's performance with the ball, in particular, will play an important role in the series, as he is India's premier spinner at present.
"Ashwin's biggest strengths is his control over his line," Adams said. "With some changes in his action, he has tightened up his bowling a lot.
"The lines he bowled in the series against Sri Lanka were one of the biggest reasons of his success because it was a wicket-taking line, not a defensive one.
"India will probably have Mishra and Harbhajan in their lineup too. [Hashim] Amla & co. should be prepared for a severe examination against spin."
