Johannesburg, First Published Dec 19, 2021, 12:39 PM IST
Johannesburg: Cheteshwar Pujara, a senior cricketer, has said that Team India will win the inaugural Test series in South Africa (India Tour of South Africa 2021-22) this year. Pujara praised the Indian pace team for taking 20 wickets in all Tests in the series.
‘The difference between the two teams was our pace bowlers whenever we played abroad. The Indian bowling unit has performed well in Australia and England. This is sure to happen in South Africa as well. Fast bowlers are our strength. Taking advantage of the pitch, they are expected to take 20 wickets in every Test.
The players come to India (against New Zealand) to play Test matches. So most of the players on the team are in touch. The support staff is great when it comes to Team India preparations. They provide excellent support. We have five or six days before the first Test. Plenty of time to prepare for the series. This is a great opportunity to win the first Test series in South Africa. The stars are all in the running for it.
Sometimes it seems that the bio-bubble helps to improve team spirit. This is because the stars spend more time together. But at the same time there are challenges. Can’t get out of the bio bubble. However, it is gratifying to be able to play a little cricket during this Kovid period, ”Pujara added.
South Africa is the soil on which Team India has yet to win a Test series. India have toured seven times since the 1992/93 season, with six series wins with the Proteas. India’s best performance so far in the 2010/11 season was when they drew the Test series under MS Dhoni.
Team India arrives in South Africa for Test series The first Test starts on December 26. Vice-captain Rohit Sharma, spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel have been ruled out of the Indian Test squad due to injuries.
Indian Test Squad
Virat Kohli (capt), Priyank Panchal, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, , Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jaspreet Bumra, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Siraj.
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