Former captain Rahul Dravid feels the Virat Kohli-led Indian team has a “great chance” of winning a maiden Test series in South Africa next month given the depth of talent in the side.
Speaking to PTI , Dravid said the current Indian team has all bases covered for the three-match series in South Africa, starting with the first Test at Cape Town from January 5, 2018.
However, the No. 1 Test team, which has won a record nine series in a row, has only one warm-up fixture before the series-opener.
“I think we have a great chance this time looking at the depth of the current side,” Dravid said on Thursday.
“We have got some quality quick bowlers, we have the opportunity of playing the all-rounder (Hardik Pandya) if we need to. We have got quality spinners in Jadeja and Ashwin. What also excites me is that all our batsmen have been to South Africa before and they have the experience of playing 40 to 50 Tests.
“Having said that, you do need a bit of luck in those conditions, a bit of rub of the green. If we get that, I am very confident about our chances,” said Dravid, who is currently coaching the India-A and U-19 teams.
India has been playing non-stop cricket since the Champions Trophy and Kohli has complained of not getting enough time to prepare for the South Africa tour due to the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, which gets over only on Dec. 24.
Dravid said it will be good to take the extra load off the players’ shoulders.
“Some years are tough (schedule wise) for the team and some are not. There is a lot of pressure on players but that is same for all teams. But it will be nice if we can balance the schedule, though it is not an easy job.”
Kohli recently surpassed Dravid as the second-highest century-maker for India across formats and is only behind Sachin Tendulkar. “The intensity that he brings on the field to inspire his teammates is what stands out for me,” said Dravid when asked what separates Kohli from the others.
The India U-19 squad endured a disastrous campaign in the Asia Cup last month but Dravid chose to look ahead to the World Cup starting in New Zealand from Jan. 13, 2018.
On what went wrong at the Asia Cup, Dravid said: “Not much. At this level you are not looking at the results. They are young kids and sometimes you expect the results to not go your way. The U-19 level is all about giving opportunities to as many players as possible.
“That was the process we followed in the Asia Cup. I don’t stress too much on results. We are looking forward to the World Cup now and the three-week camp ahead of that starts in Bengaluru on Friday.”
It was a collective decision by Dravid and the selectors to make batting sensation Prithvi Shaw play the Ranji Trophy over the Asia Cup.
“We took a decision, a right decision that the boys who are playing Ranji Trophy should be allowed to play that. With U-19, what we are trying to do is to move the players from junior level to the Ranji level and then hopefully the Indian team,” said Dravid.
“The faster they get the opportunity, that is the real goal. Nothing would make me happier if they go on to play for India-A.”
Asked if Shaw is ready to play for India, Dravid said: “He is a good player, he has started his season well but selectors will take a call on his future.”
