Team India is doing wonders in the longest format of cricket for some time now. Such is the domination of Virat Kohli’s troops that they have recently registered their ninth consecutive Tests series victory. And now the world’s number one Test side will head off for their toughest challenge in recent times.

Following the conclusion of T20I series against Sri Lanka, Team India are slated to travel to South Africa for three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is. India now have a chance to make a historic 10 Test series wins in a row, however, what sounds difficult is – no Indian side has ever won a Test series on the South African soil.

Talking about the forthcoming South Africa challenge, former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has said that the visiting batsmen will have to up their game by many folds if they want to accomplish a fruitful result.

“I have always felt that the batsmen need to put up big scores for the bowlers to bowl freely. You need to post over-300 scores and that’s what we should be looking at. The bowlers will then have the freedom to express themselves,” Prasad, who is also the national junior selection committee chief, was quoted as saying to mid-day.

In the recent times, there has been a healthy competition among the Indian bowlers as the team boast the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya in the pace attack besides having the services of ace spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

On being asked what tips he would like to give to the bowlers on bouncy Proteas wickets, Prasad said: “There may not be bouncy tracks. You may surprised to encounter good batting tracks as well.”

India will face South Africa in three-match Test series from January 5 at Newlands, Cape Town.

India Test Squad for South Africa Tour:

Virat Kohli(c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Parthiv Patel, Jasprit Bumrah

Itinerary:

Jan 05 - Jan 09, 1st Test – Newlands, Cape Town

Jan 13 - Jan 17, 2nd Test – SuperSport Park, Centurion

Jan 24 - Jan 28, 3rd Test – New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Feb 01, 1st ODI – Kingsmead, Durban

Feb 04, 2nd ODI – SuperSport Park, Centurion

Feb 07, 3rd ODI – Newlands, Cape Town

Feb 10, 4th ODI – New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Feb 13, 5th ODI – St George's Park, Port Elizabeth

Feb 16, 6th ODI – SuperSport Park, Centurion

Feb 18, 1st T20I – New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Feb 21, 2nd T20I – SuperSport Park, Centurion

Feb 24, 3rd T20I – Newlands, Cape Town