NEW DELHI: Team India was left stunned last year when their long-standing dominance in home Test cricket came to an end with a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand. It was India's first home series defeat since 2012, their first clean sweep on home soil since South Africa's 2-0 win in 2000, and their first-ever whitewash in a series of three Tests or more.
World Test champions South Africa will once again have their sights set on conquering India in their own backyard as the first Test of the two-match series gets underway at Eden Gardens on Friday.
Winning a Test series in India would be next best to World Championship triumph: Temba Bavuma
Skipper Temba Bavuma also recalled a light-hearted moment with former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who offered him one simple piece of advice - "win the toss."
"I met up with Kane at an awards evening in India a couple of months ago. I tried to ask him for some pointers," Bavuma said with a chuckle.
"He wasn't too open about it, but he did say, make sure that you win the toss. So I've been practising it."
Having returned from a long injury lay-off with runs and time at the crease in the second unofficial Test against India A, Bavuma, who scored a second innings fifty after a golden duck in the first innings, said proving his fitness was a key step.
"For me, the biggest thing was having come off a long lay-off of Test cricket, getting back on the field, proving my fitness to myself and everyone around, spending some time at the crease. I think that was important," he said.
The Proteas skipper, who faced Kuldeep Yadav for the first time in that warm-up, said India's left-arm wrist spinner will be a handful.
"I'd rather face him in the A game than here in Kolkata - that's if he plays. He's not a massive turner of the ball, but he can obviously deceive you off the wicket," Bavuma said.
"You can see why India have a lot of faith in him. Definitely a guy who's a wicket-taker."
