South Africa captain Temba Bavuma is expecting India to dish out turning tracks for the two-Test series next month despite the home team's inclination towards playing on balanced tracks under captain Shubman Gill.
India have relied on their spin strength on rank turners to gain points in World Test Championship (WTC) cycles in the past, but Gill has said he wants his side to play on tracks that are good for both batting and bowling. WTC defending champions South Africa will play India in two Tests scheduled in Kolkata (November 14-18) and Guwahati (November 22-26).
“In terms of the surfaces in India, they are spinner-friendly. We won't be in shock if we get to India and we’re playing on spinner-friendly wickets,” Bavuma told the media during the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards. “Generally, teams now are always using their conditions to their favour, especially with the World Test Championship cycle and the way that it's been set up, so we won't be surprised from that point of view,” he said.
Bavuma, who led South Africa to the title win in the 2023-25 WTC cycle, said it will depend on how visiting spinners bowl in India compared to the home team’s spinners. “From my experience, there always seems to be a difference between the way Indian spinners bowl in their own conditions versus spinners outside of India. There's always that challenge of foreign spinners adjusting to the conditions. They're either bowling quicker in these conditions (or) bowling flatter,” he said.
Bavuma said he is ready for a “tough” Indian tour but will look to draw inspiration from New Zealand’s 3-0 win in the 2024-25 season. “Touring India is never easy. Looking at the way New Zealand went about their business, it was inspiring in a lot of ways. A lot of away teams come to India and haven't been successful,” he said.
“I heard Kane Williamson is going to be here. I'll definitely be asking him for tips on how they went about it,” Bavuma said before the awards ceremony.
Bavuma said former India captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have done their part and it was now time for the young generation under Gill to take Indian Test team forward. “It seems as if the new era has kicked in, if I could say. Guys like Rohit and Kohli have made India a team to really be feared. “I’m sure India will continue to dominate. Our job as South Africa is to not allow them to dominate as much,” he said.
Also read: Batting-friendly pitch likely for second Test against WI
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