Image Credit- PTI
On December 26, Team India will play the first of two
Test matches against South Africa, returning to action in the longest format of
the game. The much-anticipated reunion of India’s premier batting tandem, Virat
Kohli and Rohit Sharma, along with bowler Jasprit Bumrah, will occur during the
series. Mohammed Shami was expected to make his Test series comeback for the
first time since the World Cup, but an injury kept him out of the tour.
Fanie de Villiers believes that Rohit Sharma’s men
have the best chance of ending a 31-year wait for a Test series win in the
Rainbow Nation despite Shami being ruled out.
“Indian team has arrived in South Africa with its
best ever chance (to win a series),” De Villiers told PTI during an
exclusive interview before the Boxing Day Test starting December 26.
Formerly known for his skill with the slower delivery
in white-ball cricket and Allan Donald’s trusted new ball partner until the
mid-1990s, De Villiers commended Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shami for
assembling a pace unit that understands the value of line over length in
pacer-friendly conditions, setting them apart from some of India’s previous
bowling attacks.
“For the first time they have got fast bowlers,
who can bowl ‘the line’ and not just hit the length. They can bowl on the
imaginary ‘fifth’, ‘sixth’ off-stump line. If you can get at least four balls
on that corridor, that’s how you win Tests,” said the bowler, who had a
stunning economy rate of less than four in 85 ODIs and less than three in 18
Tests.
“India have been coming for many years but very
few of your fast bowlers were line bowlers. But now you have Bumrah and Siraj.
Yes, I agree that Shami not playing makes a massive difference. But Siraj and
Bumrah are bowlers who can bowl line, whereas South African bowlers bowl from
off to leg stump.
“Because they (Proteas pacers) are youngsters
running and trying to bowl fast. Only Rabada can bowl that good line, I think
India have got the best chance ever.”