Proteas fast bowler Duanne Olivier says South Africa must strike first and strike hard against star batsman Virat Kohli and his India teammates on Boxing Day.
The Proteas enter the ring at Centurion Park on Sunday at 10am as heavy underdogs against the groot honde of world cricket.
Ranked sixth, Olivier and his teammates are up against the world’s top-ranked Test team in the three-match series.
South Africa, though, have history on their side, having never lost a home series to their visitors.
And with it being the 30-year anniversary of South Africa’s return to international cricket in a home series against the same opposition, there will be a lot of emotion involved.
Returning to the team for the first time since 2019, Olivier says: “They [India] are not the number one side in the world for nothing.
“It’s a massive series, they haven’t won here and would like to do so, we don’t want that to happen. “In the whole context of cricket in South Africa, it’s massive and there will be a lot of pressure.
“But if we can stick to our plans and not get drawn into outside views and whatever emotionally I think we’ll be in a good position.”
He adds: “It will be tough, for me personally it’s probably the biggest series I will play.
“So if selected there will be those pressures - you play against world class players. It’s exciting at the same time - I will bowl to Kohli, it will be tough, but exciting.
“Bowling to top four batters in the world, for me it’s like making a statement to them. We’re here to compete, we're not going to roll over.
“It will be very important to throw the first punch to let them know that you are here.”
dudley.carstens@inl.co.za