India and South Africa will go head-to-head from Friday in Kolkata in the first Test, and it will be South Africa’s biggest challenge since winning the World Test Championship for the first time when they beat Australia at Lord’s in London earlier this year. Any team beating India in a Test series in their own backyard is a very rare occurrence, and in fact, it’s something that South Africa has only managed once before, more than 25 years ago, when the Proteas beat India by four wickets in Wankhede, and by an innings and 71 runs in Bengaluru during the 1999/00 season. 

Playing the first Test at the iconic Eden Gardens certainly makes it even more special, as just over 34 years ago to the day, South Africa returned to international cricket after nearly 22 years of isolation by playing their first One-Day International against India at the famous ground.

Temba Bavuma and Shukri Conrad. Photo: Cricinfo

Speaking two days out from the first Test, Conrad said facing India in their own backyard is as big as it gets, and for him, it even edges the WTC final.

“India is a tough challenge anywhere in the world, and when you come to an iconic venue like Eden Gardens, that just makes it even tougher,” said Conrad.

“I don’t think you can compare the quality of the sides we’ve played against India, and this will be our biggest challenge.

“Certainly, my 20th match. I don’t think there’s been a bigger challenge. Yes, we had the final against Australia that we won, which was massive. I compare this series and this match to the WTC final.

“That’s how big it is for us.”

Senuran Muthusamy. Photo: Cricinfo

While the conditions in India are expected to be less spin-friendly than what South Africa experienced in Pakistan, Conrad added that having players such as Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy gives them a lot of confidence in the bowling department.

“I think previously, and this isn’t saying we didn’t have good spinners in the past, but we’ve got a better pack of spinners now in Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy,” Conrad added.

Simon Harmer. Photo: Cricinfo

“So I think it gives us a lot of confidence that if the conditions are what the gentleman in the previous question thinks they’re going to be, we feel that we’ve got the armoury to challenge India in that respect as well.”

Meanwhile, the former North West Dragons captain, Senuran Muthusamy, was on Wednesday named at the ICC’s Men’s Player of the Month for October. Proteas captain, Laura Wolvaardt, was named as the Women’s Player of the Month for October.

The first ball between India and South Africa in Kolkata is set to be bowled at 06:00 on Friday morning.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek