Former South African pacer Allan Donald credited Virat Kohli’s statement from 2018 for the transformation of the Indian side into a quality team.
Team India under Virat Kohli has been ruthless in Test cricket at home as well as in away conditions. The 33-year-old Kohli is one of the finest leaders going around and he along with the players has made India one of the most dominant sides in world cricket today.
Under his captaincy current Team India is one of the fittest in the world and the fearless attitude of the players has helped the team reach new heights in world cricket.
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The side defeated Australia in the Test series in their own backyard, twice on the trot and based on their consistent performances, the Virat Kohli-led side also reached the final of the World Test Championship 2021.
Team India is also leading 1-2 in the away Test series against England with the fifth Test to be played in 2022. However massive challenge awaits ahead of them as they will play the three-Test series in South Africa, a country where the Indian Cricket Team has never won a test series.
Talking about the upcoming Test series between South Africa and India, legendary pacer Allan Donald called it a marquee series.
He recalled Virat Kohli’s comments after a 2-1 series loss against South Africa in 2018. The Indian skipper mentioned that it was the start of a new era that would see the Indian team set benchmarks in terms of playing good cricket overseas.
Donald pointed out that Virat Kohli worked towards that and the results are in front of everyone as Team India won in Australia and also reached the WTC 2021 final.
"There is no doubt this is one of the marquee series in the world game and we can look forward to an incredible battle over the summer. Kohli's comments a few years ago were that you'll never be classed as a great side if you don't win away from home and that has been something he really worked towards.
“You saw them win in Australia and also reach the WTC (World Test Championship) Final. This is a quality Indian team that is here. I'm looking forward to it,” Allan Donald told cricket.co.za.
Donald admitted that both teams are lined up well but South Africa has lost some key batters in the last couple of seasons and with youngsters in the side, the Indian bowling line-up will test them.
He admitted that South Africa has failed to score enough runs in the last few seasons but if they put runs on the board they have the bowlers to take 20 wickets.
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"Both teams line up really well, both have strong bowling line-ups and that will mean the batting on both sides will be tested. Our batting has lost some key players in the last couple of seasons. There's no hiding from the fact that it’s a young line-up and they will be tested by the Indian attack.
"For me that is where the series will be decided. In the last few seasons, we haven't scored enough runs and that will be the challenge. If we can put the runs on the board, we undoubtedly have the bowlers who can take 20 wickets. There is a really good balance to our attack, and it will be interesting to watch,” he said.
The Test series between South Africa and India 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.
After that both teams will play three-ODI series, that will be played from 19th January to 23rd January.
(Cricket.co.za inputs)
