The Proteas will face an Indian outfit bristling with confidence, in the opening T20 international this afternoon (start 3:30pm, SA time) in the picturesque Dharamshala region.
For all intents and purposes, the stunning HPCA stadium could easily be in a scenic part of New Zealand, or perhaps in the Cape region.
“It really is a pretty stadium, and the wicket has a nice bit of pace to it. It is still fairly new, but we have had a few cracking IPL games there,” local Punjabi boy David Miller said ahead of the match.
But, Faf du Plessis and his side will have precious little time to take in the sights, as they will be met by an Indian side looking to get the upper hand early, and take charge of what will be a heck of a lot of meetings with South Africa over the next 10 weeks.
“We want to dominate South Africa and play positive cricket. We are here to win the series. We have had good practice sessions in Bengaluru and now we have a few to go in Dharamsala. We are getting used to these conditions and it is going to be very exciting,” the busy Ajinkya Rahane roared.
The home side arrived early in the mountains, getting familiar with a field that has a lot of dew, and a slick outfield that often catches boundary fielders by surprise, as the ball streaks across the surface.
“The toss will play a big role in this game. It gets difficult to field under lights. When we practiced, the ball was wobbling in the air.
“We are looking to practice our fielding under lights because the ball tends to fly off the bat. When you are fielding on the boundary you do not get that extra yard to field because the ball is coming towards you at a fast pace,” left-handed star Suresh Raina warned.
Raina and Rahane are just two of India’s clutch of dangermen, all capable of wreaking havoc when the mood takes them, regardless where they pop up in the order.
“In this team, we all believe that anyone can bat in any batting position. Everyone’s goal is to do well for the team and do well for the country.
“Whatever the captain and the management asks us to do, to play a certain role in the team, we are on it. For me, the team comes first and then myself,” Rahane said, explaining the yo-yoing capability in the team. – The Star