Mark Boucher Feels Faf Du Plessis' Knowledge Of The Indian Conditions Will Prove Handy

The South African team landed in India where they will take on the men in blue in the three-match ODI series starting Thursday in Dharamshala. The visitors completed a clean sweep of Australia back at their home before this which would be a considerable confidence booster ahead of the series in India. With Faf Du Plessis back in the side, coach Mark Boucher feels that his experience in the sub-continent will be crucial.

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Du Plessis last played an ODI during the 2019 World Cup in which the Proteas failed to make past the group stages. The selectors also stripped him from captaincy to give the reigns to Quinton de Kock under whom the team drew the ODI series against England and won it against Australia convincingly. The veteran seemed out of form in the losing T20 series against Australia with scores of 24, 15, and 5.

Ahead of the pre-departure press conference, Boucher claimed that the former captain is doing exceptionally well in ODI cricket, having mustered a century the last time he played. His knowledge of the Indian conditions would help the youngsters, some of whom would be playing in India for the first time. Furthermore, he realizes that Faf’s presence may give them a few selection conundrums, which he believes is a good thing since his mere presence is a massive boost.

“If you go to a place like India, you need to find a balance between youth and experience. I think Faf is really doing well in ODI cricket for South Africa. The last time he played, he got a hundred. He knows the Indian conditions very well. It’s a good headache to have. Just him being around the squad will add a lot of value and experience as well. We will look at conditions and then put together combinations. Why you would want to have Faf is because he has done really well in those (Indian) conditions.” Boucher said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Mark Boucher believes India would be a tough test to crack:

While acknowledging that the team has responded well to the camp’s messages to them, Boucher said playing the men in blue on their home turf is a massive challenge since not a lot of them have played there. At the same time, the former wicketkeeper-batsman conceded that they would draw confidence from beating an excellent team comprehensively.

“We have just beaten a very good team now. We needed confidence and it will certainly give us a lot of confidence. India is going to be a tough test. Different conditions. Lot of guys haven’t played a lot of cricket in India as well. What’s impressive is guys have responded to the messages we have sent out to them on batting and bowling perspectives.” he added further.

The second and third ODI would be contested in Lucknow and Kolkata respectively.

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