Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara stated that the team knows what’s expected of them and that they have self-belief of winning from and in any condition, ahead of the three-match Test series against South Africa which begins on December 26 onwards.
After the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, India will play in Johannesburg from January 3rd and the last Test in Cape Town from January 11. Then the two teams will meet in three ODIs from January 19-23.
Having never won a Test series in South Africa, the pressure is huge on the Indian team, but Pujara has expressed confidence about India's ability to emerge victorious from a Test series in South Africa, saying that his side has the self-belief that it can "win in any condition".
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"We know what is expected of our team; and when it comes to preparation, all of us are ready and we know what is expected. I think having done well in England and Australia will make a big, big difference in this squad's confidence and self-belief that we can win overseas, we can win in any condition. We have the capacity to win a series in South Africa," Pujara said in an interview with BCCI.tv.
Even Pujara will be eager to get some runs in the series as he is yet to score a Test century since 2019.
Earlier, Pujara had said that the upcoming tour represents the "best opportunity" for India to win a Test series in South Africa.
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"The good thing is we played a couple of Test matches in India. So most of the guys are in touch, and when it comes to preparation, the support staff has been excellent. They have been supporting us well and we have five or six days more before we head into the first Test," Pujara was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
"I am sure there is enough time for us to prepare and guys are looking forward to this series. This is the best opportunity for us to win our first series in South Africa. So all of us are looking forward to it," he added.
(BCCI and ESPNCricinfo inputs)
