Ahead of his maiden Test tour of India, Keshav Maharaj, the most experienced spinner in South Africa side at the moment, has declared that he wants to be tourists’ Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin during the upcoming three-match Test series starting from October 2 in Vizag.

The orthodox left-arm spinner, who has 94 wickets from 25 Tests to his name, has had recently a successful county stint with Yorkshire and is hoping to be as consistent as seasoned Ashwin and Jadeja to make it "uncomfortable" for the Indian batting line-up at their home soil.

Maharaj told media, “It is nice that people speak highly of you. Look at Jadeja and Ashwin. Ashwin has got a lot of variations and Jadeja keeps it simple but the key is consistency and that makes it uncomfortable for the batsmen. I can (want to) emulate that going forward and do my job from one end.”

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The 29-year-old believes that spin will be the key but reverse swing can also play a huge role in the upcoming Test series. He added, “You got to expect the ball to turn in the sub-continent and that is why people carry an extra spinner here. As far as bowling to Indian batsmen goes, you can only Test yourself against the best. The series will tell me how good I am and if I belong here in international cricket.

Besides spin, reverse swing will be key. Every bowling unit everywhere in the world likes to utilize if reverse swing is available. India have got strong bowlers including Mohammad Shami, who is unplayable at times. If it starts to reverse, then we have also got amazing bowlers, who can utilise the conditions.”

Meanwhile, India will take on South Africa – who has Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi at their pace attack, without their lethal weapon injured Jasprit Bumrah and Maharaj said Virat Kohli will badly miss him in the upcoming home Tests.

The spinner continued, “It is a big loss for India. He has turned the whole Test side for India in terms of playing in various conditions but let’s face it India have enough quality to replace him. Umesh Yadav is another world-class bowler.”

In 2015, South Africans were badly lost the Test series in India but Maharaj said the new look Proteas team is not dwelling over the past, saying they are here to compete.

He signed off by saying, “If you look at the freshness in the side, there is a hell lot of new faces and that can work for us. There is no point looking back and things may not got our way.”

(With PTI Inputs)