Former South African captain Graeme Smith has expressed confidence in his country's spin duo ahead of the two-Test series against India. The series begins on November 14 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with the second match starting on November 22 in Guwahati. Smith praised spinners Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthuswamy, emphasizing that taking 20 wickets in a Test is crucial. He made a playful comment about former teammate Morne Morkel, now India's bowling coach under Gautam Gambhir, calling him "the enemy now." Both Smith and Faf du Plessis, also present at the SA20 India Day event in Mumbai, stressed the importance of starting strong in the short series. India, led by Shubman Gill, will look to dominate at home, while South Africa brings a strong pace attack featuring Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, along with all-rounder Corbin Bosch.
Importance of Early Momentum and Key Battles
Smith and du Plessis both highlighted that gaining early momentum will be critical in the two-match series. Du Plessis noted that a strong start makes the rest of the series easier, especially given the short format. Smith added that confidence can quickly disappear after losing a Test match. He emphasized that countering Jasprit Bumrah early will be vital for South Africa before spinners come into play. If wickets fall early, it becomes harder to recover. Similarly, India must handle Kagiso Rabada effectively. Du Plessis expressed disappointment about having only two Tests, believing a minimum of three matches would be better for such series.
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