Gavaskar optimistic about India's prospects for first-ever test series victory in South Africa After 2018 setback
PTC News Desk: In 2018, India missed a golden opportunity to conquer South Africa, but the upcoming Test series might be their best chance yet, according to cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar. The former Indian captain, who never played a Test series in South Africa during his era, has witnessed numerous Indian teams attempting to break the jinx over the past three decades, always returning empty-handed. The "final frontier" for India in Test cricket has been South Africa, where they have never won a Test series in eight attempts.
Gavaskar, however, believes that the current Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, has a strong chance to make history in the upcoming two-match Test series scheduled to begin on December 26, following the ODI series against South Africa. With key South African bowlers Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada missing from the series, Gavaskar sees an opportunity for India to post substantial scores, possibly exceeding 400, with sensible batting.
"Absolutely. Look at South Africa, they are without two of their best bowlers. No Nortje, no Rabada. Now this means that the Indian batting line-up can, if they play sensibly, they should be able to put up 400, 400-plus scores without too much of an issue," Gavaskar commented after India's convincing eight-wicket victory in the opening ODI.
While acknowledging the challenges of facing a new ball and the bounce in South African conditions, Gavaskar emphasized the importance of batting well in Test cricket. He suggested that consistently scoring between 300 and 500 runs would provide India's bowlers ample opportunities to dismiss the South African team in both innings.
Reflecting on past missed opportunities, Gavaskar pointed out that the 2018 series was particularly disappointing for India. Despite having a formidable lineup, the series ended 2-1 in favor of the hosts. According to Gavaskar, the current series presents the best opportunity for India to clinch their maiden Test series victory in South Africa, and he expressed optimism about the team's chances under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and the inclusion of key players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
- With inputs from agencies
