Dubai: The much-awaited India-South Africa series commences with the question whether India can extend their winning streak outside the subcontinent. Never before has there been so much focus on India having to beat South Africa in South Africa. This is mainly because these two teams are the best today. It is a clash between the first and second-ranked teams in world Test cricket. India occupy the first slot among Test-playing nations while South Africa are second, while it is the reverse order in One Day Internationals. If India are able to beat South Africa there can be hardly any doubts on whether they are an all-round team and can dazzle in all conditions.

South African pitches

Indian batting is one of the strongest today, but they will have to prove that they are the best even on the South African wickets that have a lot of pace and bounce. The batsmen will have to adapt to the bounce with minor changes to their batting style without curbing their stroke play. India should have played a few warm up matches before the series to adapt to the conditions there, but unfortunately due to the Indian cricket board’s poor planning of the tour schedule, they are deprived of it now.

Mental toughness

For India to beat South Africa, the whole team will need to exhibit a high level of mental toughness. South African bowlers are intimidating and so are their batsmen. India will have to handle the pressure of having to win abroad with calmness. Speaking to Gulf News, South Africa’s star batsman David Miller candidly admitted that the series will be a challenge for both teams. The statistics about South Africa’s dominance should not affect India despite the fact that of the 17 Tests played in South Africa, India have won only two and lost on eight occasions and drawn seven.

India’s bowling attack

For India to win in South Africa, their bowlers must click as much as their batsmen. To get the wickets of batsmen of the calibre of Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, and the dangerous AB De Villiers, one needs skills much more than what they have exhibited in recent years. Even batsmen like Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock can win matches. So a lot will depend on how the pace attack led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, backed by Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav clicks, supported by spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s ability to use the wickets.

Batting line-up

On paper, the Indian batting looks good; but what will matter is the manner in which they perform. Speaking to Gulf News, former India batsman Dilip Vengsarkar had remarked that at the end of the day what matters most on foreign conditions is how many runs a batsman has scored and not how he played. South Africa’s bowling attack has deadly pacers in Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander, both of whom can be unplayable. India will have to also tackle Dale Steyn, who returns after an injury. South Africa’s left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj may not be experienced like the Indian spinners, but one cannot forget that he has taken 54 wickets in just 14 Test matches.

Kohli’s captaincy

This is a series that will put Virat Kohli’s batting skills as well as his captaincy to test. A win or a creditable show in the first Test can go a long way; but if India start with a defeat then Kohli will have to handle the remaining part of the series with absolute control over his emotions. It is then that Team India coach Ravi Shastri will need to play a big role in handling the pressure of setbacks. India must know very well that if put under pressure, South Africa could turn chokers. Hence dominating over them in all departments will be vital for a series win.