Having lost the T20 and the ODI series, India and South Africa will lock horns in the forthcoming four-match Test series starting on 5 November. It will be a real test of characters for the players of both the teams when they face each other in tricky wickets and conditions across the country.
Former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar feels that South Africa batsmen will be tested in turning pitches. Manjrekar also added extra emphasis on the might of the Proteas bowling attack as it is unlikely that Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander will get much of an assistance from the pitches.
"Although South Africa have won the limited over battles against India in this tour, their batting unit will be tested in turning wickets. There will be at least two ranked turning pitches in this series and that might just give the hosts an extra bit of advantage over the upbeat Proteas. India will be desperate to bounce back in the upcoming Test series," Sanjay Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.
"South Africa have not played a lot of cricket in these turning wickets. They will be depending a lot on the trio of AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis in these four Test matches. But none of the above have played a lot of cricket on such tricky pitches. The conditions are also going to test them in the forthcoming series."
The former Indian batsmen also stressed on the fact that South Africa have a formidable bowling attack with Steyn, Morkel and Philander forming their pace unit. Steyn will have to be at his best in order to help South Africa to continue with their dream run in foreign soil in the longest format of the game.
"South Africa have a bowling attack that deserves a lot of respect. Steyn is a world-class bowler but I have a feeling he is not at his prime at this moment like he was here four-five years ago. Morkel and Philander are also good bowlers but they depend upon the wickets to assist them. The pitches here in India are hardly going to offer the pacers anything so it will be interesting to see whether these Proteas bowlers will prevail over the Indian batsmen," Manjrekar added.
