Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team&nbsp;is on the top spot in the ICC Test ranking after whitewashing Sri Lanka at home but now they have to prove themselves against South Africa in the upcoming Freedom Series Trophy. It is believed that the conditions are likely to assist bounce and pace.

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Indian captain Virat Kohli said on Saturday that his Indian team have the ability to gain a first series win in South Africa.

&quot;We have the right kind of bowling attack and the right kind of balance to win Test matches in any conditions we play in,&quot; he said at the Indian team&#39;s arrival press conference.

Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis unveil Freedom Series Trophy in Cape Town. The first of the three Test matches start at Newlands in Cape Town on January 5th.

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1 day to go. Are you ready? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreedomSeries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreedomSeries</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/3WKss7R0c5">pic.twitter.com/3WKss7R0c5</a>
&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/948822559591575552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;A lot of our players have played here before. But it&#39;s about the number of games we had played then and the number we have played now,&quot; said Kohli. &quot;We all understand our own games so much better. As a team, we have confidence in our personal skills set.&quot;

Kohli said team spirit was the outstanding feature of the touring party. &quot;There&#39;s a sense of intelligence and awareness and that provides the excitement. We know exactly what we need to do come game time. We know how to win Test matches.&quot;

Kohli said India had made the right decision to cancel a scheduled two-day warm-up match, opting instead for intensive middle-wicket practice at a local club.

Kohli said his players expected to be challenged by South Africa&#39;s fast bowlers on pitches with pace and bounce but they were confident in their own ability.

&quot;Come the fifth of January we will be ready for it,&quot; he said.

Coach Ravi Shastri said, &quot;This team is up for the challenge. If you had asked me four years ago I would have said no. But this team has gained experience. The beauty of this team is that it doesn&#39;t matter which opposition. We look at the pitch and adapt to the conditions. Every game is a home game. It&#39;s as simple as that.&quot;

&quot;This will be a contest. I can sense our players want this Test match to start as soon as possible&quot;, he added.

Line up

India: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv Patel, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Lokesh Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Chris Morris, Vernon Philander, Theunis de Bruyn

&nbsp;

Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis unveil Freedom Series Trophy in Cape Town. The first of the three Test matches start at Newlands on January 5

Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team is on the top spot in the ICC Test ranking after whitewashing Sri Lanka at home but now they have to prove themselves against South Africa in the upcoming Freedom Series Trophy. It is believed that the conditions are likely to assist bounce and pace. × Indian captain Virat Kohli said on Saturday that his Indian team have the ability to gain a first series win in South Africa. "We have the right kind of bowling attack and the right kind of balance to win Test matches in any conditions we play in," he said at the Indian team's arrival press conference. Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis unveil Freedom Series Trophy in Cape Town. The first of the three Test matches start at Newlands in Cape Town on January 5th. 1 day to go. Are you ready? #FreedomSeries #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/3WKss7R0c5 — BCCI (@BCCI) January 4, 2018 × "A lot of our players have played here before. But it's about the number of games we had played then and the number we have played now," said Kohli. "We all understand our own games so much better. As a team, we have confidence in our personal skills set." Kohli said team spirit was the outstanding feature of the touring party. "There's a sense of intelligence and awareness and that provides the excitement. We know exactly what we need to do come game time. We know how to win Test matches." Kohli said India had made the right decision to cancel a scheduled two-day warm-up match, opting instead for intensive middle-wicket practice at a local club. Kohli said his players expected to be challenged by South Africa's fast bowlers on pitches with pace and bounce but they were confident in their own ability. "Come the fifth of January we will be ready for it," he said. Coach Ravi Shastri said, "This team is up for the challenge. If you had asked me four years ago I would have said no. But this team has gained experience. The beauty of this team is that it doesn't matter which opposition. We look at the pitch and adapt to the conditions. Every game is a home game. It's as simple as that." "This will be a contest. I can sense our players want this Test match to start as soon as possible", he added. Line up India: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv Patel, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Lokesh Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Chris Morris, Vernon Philander, Theunis de Bruyn

India vs South Africa: The real 'test' for India starts at Newlands

South Africa is not known for producing spin-friendly tracks and that&#39;s why Sachin Tendulkar wants Indian pacers to create &quot;enough rough&quot; on the Newlands pitch for R Ashwin, something that Zaheer Khan did for Harbhajan Singh in 2010-11.

India will play the opening Test in Cape Town starting on Friday, and Tendulkar recalled how that pitch was made conducive for Harbhajan by the Zaheer-led Indian pace attack.

&quot;During the Cape Town Test of 2010-11, Harbhajan got seven wickets in the second innings (7/120 in 38 overs). Zaheer and Lonwabo Tsotsobe being left-armers created enough rough. Ishant and Sreesanth also came round the wicket and the rough helped when Bhajji bowled to right-handers,&quot; Tendulkar recollected during an exclusive interview with PTI.

The maestro wants a repeat of the teamwork from the current pace battery. &quot;The conditions will be more challenging for Ashwin and the wicket may be a bit damp. But our Indian pacers will need to help Ashwin by creating enough rough for him,&quot; Tendulkar explained.

The legend has high expectations from Virat Kohli&#39;s men as they have the luxury to play three fast bowlers, apart from an all-rounder like Hardik Pandya, who is very much in the mix.

&quot;This time, we have the luxury of playing three fast bowlers plus a fourth pace bowling all-rounder (Pandya), who can bowl at 138-140 kmph and also bat effectively at No 7 or 8. Hardik has done it in Sri Lanka.

&quot;In my 24-year career, I never had the luxury of the fourth fast bowler who is an all-rounder. Of course, we had Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar but they were among the top three pacers,&quot; Tendulkar said.

&quot;In 2010-11, we played some really good cricket and should have won the Cape Town Test had Harbhajan got some support from the other end. Then Kallis and Boucher also had a good partnership (103 runs),&quot; he remembered.

There is still some debate on whether the Indian team management should play Rohit Sharma as the extra batsman or go with the belief that Pandya has good enough technique to survive the second new ball batting at No 6, a position that VVS Laxman had made his own for a decade.

Tendulkar made it clear that it is a decision of the team management and he will never compare one player with another.

&quot;That&#39;s a big call (Hardik or Rohit) but I would not like to comment on who should be playing. It depends on the team management, what kind of track is being provided, how much grass is on offer. There are a lot of factors and sitting here, I shouldn&#39;t be making a comment,&quot; Tendulkar said.

 
Similarly, he did not wish to comment on who between KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan should open with Murali Vijay.

&quot;All these boys are very close to me. I am in touch with all of them, they discuss their cricket with me and it is not fair on my part to give my opinion on who should play and who should not. I have never liked comparisons,&quot; said international cricket&#39;s highest-ever run-getter.

Tendulkar has watched Jasprit Bumrah from close quarters growing into a potent white-ball bowler at the Mumbai Indians and is confident that he would do well as and when he gets a chance in Tests.

&quot;He (Bumrah) is a bright prospect. He is sharp and got the temperament to the highest level. But then Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been regular members for some time. So we will have to assess that,&quot; the 43-year-old said.

Tendulkar&#39;s duel with Dale Steyn during the Cape Town Test of 2010-11 is a part of cricketing folklore and the legend termed it the most challenging track on which he had played.

&quot;The Cape Town pitch of the 2010-11 was the most challenging track. I remember while fielding, I told Rahul Dravid that this was a proper seaming track. You never felt settled even after scoring runs. You had to play on the rise,&quot; said Tendulkar.

Asked about the secret of success for batsmen on challenging tracks, Tendulkar referred to his double hundred in Sydney, where he was an epitome of patience not hitting a single cover drive till he got to the double ton.

&quot;The Australian pacers during that innings were bowling straight and into the wicketkeeper&#39;s gloves. I told myself, &#39;Good, you people want to bowl where you want, I would wait and make you bowl, where I want&#39;,&quot; he recalled.

&quot;A good batting line-up is the one which makes a bowling unit bowl where they want to. Each wicket has a certain character where you should know which shots to play and which ones not to,&quot; he elaborated.

But is it that easy? &quot;Not exactly easy but that&#39;s what you work hard for. There will be days when you would let your instincts take a call and days when your mind takes a call,&quot; he signed off.

&nbsp;

Sachin's master class for India team for the upcoming test series against South Africa

South Africa is not known for producing spin-friendly tracks and that's why Sachin Tendulkar wants Indian pacers to create "enough rough" on the Newlands pitch for R Ashwin, something that Zaheer Khan did for Harbhajan Singh in 2010-11. India will play the opening Test in Cape Town starting on Friday, and Tendulkar recalled how that pitch was made conducive for Harbhajan by the Zaheer-led Indian pace attack. "During the Cape Town Test of 2010-11, Harbhajan got seven wickets in the second innings (7/120 in 38 overs). Zaheer and Lonwabo Tsotsobe being left-armers created enough rough. Ishant and Sreesanth also came round the wicket and the rough helped when Bhajji bowled to right-handers," Tendulkar recollected during an exclusive interview with PTI. The maestro wants a repeat of the teamwork from the current pace battery. "The conditions will be more challenging for Ashwin and the wicket may be a bit damp. But our Indian pacers will need to help Ashwin by creating enough rough for him," Tendulkar explained. The legend has high expectations from Virat Kohli's men as they have the luxury to play three fast bowlers, apart from an all-rounder like Hardik Pandya, who is very much in the mix. "This time, we have the luxury of playing three fast bowlers plus a fourth pace bowling all-rounder (Pandya), who can bowl at 138-140 kmph and also bat effectively at No 7 or 8. Hardik has done it in Sri Lanka. "In my 24-year career, I never had the luxury of the fourth fast bowler who is an all-rounder. Of course, we had Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar but they were among the top three pacers," Tendulkar said. "In 2010-11, we played some really good cricket and should have won the Cape Town Test had Harbhajan got some support from the other end. Then Kallis and Boucher also had a good partnership (103 runs)," he remembered. There is still some debate on whether the Indian team management should play Rohit Sharma as the extra batsman or go with the belief that Pandya has good enough technique to survive the second new ball batting at No 6, a position that VVS Laxman had made his own for a decade. Tendulkar made it clear that it is a decision of the team management and he will never compare one player with another. "That's a big call (Hardik or Rohit) but I would not like to comment on who should be playing. It depends on the team management, what kind of track is being provided, how much grass is on offer. There are a lot of factors and sitting here, I shouldn't be making a comment," Tendulkar said. Similarly, he did not wish to comment on who between KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan should open with Murali Vijay. "All these boys are very close to me. I am in touch with all of them, they discuss their cricket with me and it is not fair on my part to give my opinion on who should play and who should not. I have never liked comparisons," said international cricket's highest-ever run-getter. Tendulkar has watched Jasprit Bumrah from close quarters growing into a potent white-ball bowler at the Mumbai Indians and is confident that he would do well as and when he gets a chance in Tests. "He (Bumrah) is a bright prospect. He is sharp and got the temperament to the highest level. But then Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been regular members for some time. So we will have to assess that," the 43-year-old said. Tendulkar's duel with Dale Steyn during the Cape Town Test of 2010-11 is a part of cricketing folklore and the legend termed it the most challenging track on which he had played. "The Cape Town pitch of the 2010-11 was the most challenging track. I remember while fielding, I told Rahul Dravid that this was a proper seaming track. You never felt settled even after scoring runs. You had to play on the rise," said Tendulkar. Asked about the secret of success for batsmen on challenging tracks, Tendulkar referred to his double hundred in Sydney, where he was an epitome of patience not hitting a single cover drive till he got to the double ton. "The Australian pacers during that innings were bowling straight and into the wicketkeeper's gloves. I told myself, 'Good, you people want to bowl where you want, I would wait and make you bowl, where I want'," he recalled. "A good batting line-up is the one which makes a bowling unit bowl where they want to. Each wicket has a certain character where you should know which shots to play and which ones not to," he elaborated. But is it that easy? "Not exactly easy but that's what you work hard for. There will be days when you would let your instincts take a call and days when your mind takes a call," he signed off.

Pacers need to help spinners in South Africa, says Tendulkar

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India vs South Africa: The real 'test' for India starts at Newlands

Pacers need to help spinners in South Africa, says Tendulkar