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Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has provided insights into the challenges faced by Indian batters in South African conditions. Speaking ahead of the first Test in Centurion, du Plessis explained what India's batter can do to perform well in the Rainbow Nation.
India have not yet won a Test series in South Africa, but the Rohit Sharma-led side is bringing a strong team that could pose a significant challenge to the hosts in the upcoming two-match Test series.
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“It's the bounce. There is almost one full hand of extra bounce here, compared to what they usually face in India. They are used to hitting the ball on the up there, but with the bounce on offer and lateral movement, there is additional risk at play if you haven't done it before and are not used to the lift. The key to doing well in South Africa is to leave well and be there for a long period”, Du Plessis told The Indian Express ahead of the series.
India will see the return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah to the side for the first time since the ODI World Cup 2023 Final. Unfortunately, the Indian team will be without Mohammed Shami, who has been declared unfit for the series.
Du Plessis emphasised the importance of respecting the conditions in South Africa at all times and advised against forcing issues if success is the goal.
"I remember the 2018 series, where they ran us close. They left the ball really well then and that is the key to be a successful Test side in South Africa. You have got to be patient and respect the conditions at all times. You need to have a good plan as to how you play the short balls with the extra bounce and how well you leave them," du Plessis concluded.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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