Why the India vs South Africa series could prove to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller
Why the India vs South Africa series could prove to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller Sachin Tendulkar will want to get his first home Test hundred against SA. Pics/Getty Images, mid day archives
Proud lot
Ever since they were readmitted to the international fold, South Africa have always been rated as one of the top outfits in world cricket. The Proteas (earlier called Springboks) are a proud lot when they wear those green caps and the Indian crowd will see that passion coming through yet again.
Shock value?
India may be the No 1 side in the world but pundits are not rating them as favourites. There are some grey areas which could stick out. However, recent Indian teams have the knack of surprising the shrewdest of pundits. A classic case in point is the last home series against Australia. The men from Down Under had everything going for them to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but India didn't allow them to win any of the four Tests.
Quality bowlers
The Nagpur and Kolkata tracks may not be thriving grounds for the bowlers. The batters will enjoy their time out in the middle but watch out for the spinners. A rookie like Jason Krejza bagged a heap of wickets in 2008 despite India winning and if the Kolkata track plays true to reputation, there could be some help for the paceman and spinners. Both sides have quality in these departments.
Top in order
The batsmen will be itching for a hit but the middle and lower order would not get too excited. India and South Africa have batsmen at the top of the order who can get massive scores and steal anyone's thunder. We are referring to South African captain Graeme Smith and India blaster Virender Sehwag. Sehwag scored a triple against the Proteas in the last series and Smith's highest score is 277. However, he has yet to score a three-figure knock against India. Watch him.
Steyn gun
South Africa will return home unrewarded if Dale Steyn doesn't have a big role to play in this series. He can terrorise the opponents with pace and is no slouch when it comes to swinging the ball. India have a formidable batting line-up but they have been suspect against genuine pace and swing.
Bhajji bash
Harbhajan Singh has not been in the best of touch. Experts reckon a bowler of his class should be running through sides but sadly, the Sardar of Spin has under-achieved. The South Africans could well be the fodder the off-spinner needs to enhance his reputation. Undoubtedly, he would be relishing the prospects of bowling to the lefties.
Wily glovesmen
This is an area which many take for granted and wicketkeepers are not wrong when they reckon theirs is a thankless job. They only get noticed when they are experiencing bad days. However, both sides have accomplished wicketkeepers who deserve to be appreciated, applauded and admired. Boucher is a much more pretty sight than his Indian counterpart, but Dhoni has managed his wicketkeeping, batting and captaincy duties remarkably.
Power of youth
Youth is always exciting to watch. India have two men in their batting ranks who have the potential to be future stars. S Badrinath and Murali Vijay have to thank the injuries to Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh for their inclusion but they've earned their call-up through some impressive domestic scores. The men from Tamil Nadu are too good to let a good opportunity go abegging.
Tendulkar threat
Sachin Tendulkar has been playing the South Africans at home from 1996. However, he has yet to take a Test hundred off them on home soil. The closest he came to a three-figure knock was in Mumbai during the first Test of the 2000 series.
Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher caught the master batsman off Jacques Kallis for 97 at the Wankhede Stadium. Tendulkar was captaining India then and went on to lose the Test series
0-2. Boucher and Kallis are part of this South African team and no one needs to remind Tendulkar of this fact.
Dream fielders
Traditionally, the South Africans field very well and this series will have plenty of sights where the Proteas will throw themselves at everything. Jonty Rhodes may have long retired but he inspired a generation. The Indian batsmen may be excellent strokeplayers but they are not the quickest in the world when it comes to running between wickets. The quicksilver South Africans would have realised that.
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