IND vs SA, 1st Test: Du Plessis Warns India Against 'Maharaj Challenge' On Turning Tracks

The Proteas captain asserted that it won’t be easy for the hosts to face Keshav Maharaj on a turning track

As South Africa gear up to begin their World Test Championship campaign against India on Wednesday in Vishakhapatnam, skipper Faf du Plessis has indicated to the Indian condition with his spin brigade. During the pre-match presser, the Proteas captain asserted that it won’t be easy for the hosts to face Keshav Maharaj on a turning track.

“In the past series we have seen that the bowl spun quite a bit, I think the bowler we have in Maharaj at the moment is probably just as good as any spinner around the world. So he will be a challenge for the Indian batters if the decks were to spin quite a bit,” du Plessis told reporters here at Vizag.

Talking about the pace bowling options for the first test, du Plessis said,

“We also have the pace but it is about making sure you have an accurate pace. For the ball to reverse swing you need a dry surface and pitches. We can use the dry pitches to our advantages as we have few bowlers who can bowl 140-145kmph plus and that's where reverse swing becomes the real weapon,” he added.

South Africa's Test squad: Faf du Plessis (Capt), Temba Bavuma (vc), Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second. India's playing XI: Virat Kohli (Capt), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Md Shami South Africa will take on India in the first Test, slated to begin from October 2.