Debasis Sen, Capetown: India captain Virat Kohli on Saturday said that his team had the ability to gain a first series win in South Africa. “We have the right kind of bowling attack and the right kind of balance to win Test matches in any conditions we play in,” he said at the Indian team’s arrival press conference.
The first of the three Test matches starts at Newlands on Friday. On being reminded that the Indians are yet to win a series here in their last six attempts, Kohli said, “For us it is about winning sessions, being in the present, executing our skills well, not looking at the history of a particular country we are playing in.”
There are as many as 13 players in this team that has the experience of playing a series in South Africa during 2013/14. The players have gained in a lot of experience over the last four years.
“A lot of our players have played here before. But it’s about the number of games we had played then and the number we have played now,” said Kohli. “We all understand our own games so much better. As a team we have confidence in our personal skills set.”
Kohli said team spirit was the outstanding feature of the touring party. “There’s a sense of intelligence and awareness and that provides the excitement. We know exactly what we need to do come game time. We know how to win Test matches.”
It will be a battle between the Indian batsmen against the Proteas bowlers.
Kohli said his players expected to be challenged by South Africa’s fast bowlers on pitches with pace and bounce but they were confident in their own ability.
“Come the fifth of January we will be ready for it,” he said.
Coach Ravi Shastri also exuded confidence in the team saying, “This team is up for the challenge. If you had asked me four years ago I would have said no. But this team has gained in experience. The beauty of this team is that it doesn’t matter which opposition. We look at the pitch and adapt to the conditions. Every game is a home game. It’s as simple as that.”
Shastri added: “This will be a contest. I can sense our players want this Test match to start as soon as possible.”