A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB

IF THERE was any doubt about how difficult it is to win in India, then a quick look at the Proteas’ record over the past nine Tests there serves as a cold reminder. 

Seven defeats, a single victory and one match abandoned since 2010.

Spinner Keshav Maharaj admitted: “It’s probably one of the toughest tours, if not the toughest tour on the Proteas calendar.”

There is something different about this upcoming two-match series, which starts at Eden Gardens on Friday.

Unlike their last visit to India in 2019, when the team was in disarray after a swak ODI World Cup campaign, held together by a part-time

management staff, and the hele game in a complete flux in SA, the Proteas have arrived in India with the World Test Championship belt in their possession.

They also have a trusted coaching staff, led by the genius coach Shukri Conrad, that has been able to get the best out of them even though they don’t possess the calibre of former Proteas ysters.

Maharaj added: “There’s a real hunger and desire within the camp to obviously beat India in India.

“As a unit, we feel like it’s one of our biggest tests. Whenever someone needs to put their hand up, it’s shared among the group wholeheartedly.

“It will be a wonderful opportunity to grade ourselves, to see how far we’ve come. Slowly but surely, we started to conquer other parts of the subcontinent. And I feel like this is one assignment that we really, really want to take.”