SA v IND: Graeme Smith Believes India Will Face "Pace Test" against South Africa

The former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith made a huge statement by saying the Virat Kohli-led Team India would face the litmus Test on the Proteas soil against the hostile fast bowling.

Pertinently, the veteran Proteas batsman Smith reiterated the national side bowlers would decide the fate, owing to the ability that how India will shape up in the gruelling overseas series.

“The pace and skills of our bowlers here will be the real test for them,” Smith was quoted as saying by Sport24.

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With India all set to play the bilateral series in South Africa slated to kick off in Cape Town on January 5, the 44-year-old Smith feels it would be an interesting series to watch out for.

“It will be really interesting,” Smith maintained.

Moreover, Smith asserted that it would be crucial to see how the Indian bowling department would assess the situation to challenge the strong-looking Faf du Plessis-led South Africa, particularly in the three-match Test series.

Smith, who in his straightforward response remarked the bowlers from India including pace spearhead has to deliver well- to lift the team to the hard-fought win.

“India’s own pace attack will also have to do well in order for them to have success here,” Smith concluded.

The two top-ranked teams which have had been planning according to the strength and the visitors would be playing a major series since 2015 when India lost the Border-Gavaskar series 2-0 in Australia and this time around well-oiled batting line-up is expected to deliver for the world No.1 Test team in the ICC rankings.

However, with the consistent performance from Team India, the morale of the team members would be high after taking on England, Australia and New Zealand since past two years before recently facing Sri Lanka while winning the three-match Test series 1-0.

It’s pertinent to mention; South Africa would be relying on bowling arsenal which includes injury-marred Dale Steyn followed Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada as lanky fast bowler Morne Morkel has played an integral part while donning the white jersey.

The bowlers from India have had shown quality improvement to win matches for the team which is further comprised of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma – to complete the list of six fast bowlers for African tour.

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With the inclusion of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, the side is expected to get the variety in the Test fold, as death overs specialist in limited-overs Jasprit Bumrah has been an interesting call-up in the Test squad.

The 36-year-old Johannesburg-born Graeme Smith represented South Africa in 117 Tests in which he amassed 9,265 runs at an average of 48.25 runs. He smashed 27-hundred and 38 fifties. And he had represented the Proteas in 197 One-day Internationals and 33 Twenty20Internationalss between 2002 and 2014.