Former Indian selector Saba Karim backed the Virat Kohli-led side to win the three-match Test series in South Africa, saying that it’s a golden opportunity for them to script history.
Team India is all set to clash with South Africa in three Tests and three ODIs. The tour will kick start with the Boxing Day Test from December 26 at SuperSport Park, Centurion followed by the second Test at Johannesburg from January 3 to 7.
The final Test will take place in Cape Town from January 11 to 15. While the three-ODI series will be played from 19th January to 23rd January.
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The squad for the Test series has reached South Africa and have started to begin their preparations. The series will hold extreme importance for the Virat Kohli-led side as South Africa is the only country where the Indian Cricket Team has never won a test series.
Being high on confidence after defeating Australia in their own backyard and leading England 2-1 in the COVID-19 affected series in their home, the Virat Kohli-led side would be looking to script history and register their first Test series win in South Africa.
In an interaction with Sports Tiger, Saba Karim predicted that India will Test series 2-0 or 2-1 against South Africa. He pointed out that the Virat Kohli-led side is ‘immensely strong’ and recalled how they defeated Australia in Gabba with the second-string side.
He added that with the experience set up along with some exciting youngsters in the side, it’s a golden opportunity for India to win Test series in South Africa.
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"Either 2-0 or 2-1 (in Tests). In ODI we are anyway a far superior side. It is immensely strong (bench strength) and proof of that was shown by them in Australia. We won the fourth Test without I think five or six of our regular players. That shows the kind of strength that India have got in our reserves.
“And I expect the same this time around and it is our golden opportunity for us as well have an experienced set up. Plus we have some potentially exciting youngsters who are coming through to the team. It will be an ideal combination for us to do well in South Africa," Saba Karim said.
Notably, India will be without Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill and Akshar Patel for the series. KL Rahul has been named the Test vice-captain in absence of Rohit Sharma.
(Sports Tiger inputs)
