IND vs SA: Maharaj Anticipates Less Spin from Indian Pitches Compared to Pakistan

South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj is optimistic that the upcoming Test series against India, beginning in Kolkata on Friday, will not feature the spin-heavy pitches his team faced in Pakistan last month.

During the recent two-match series, spinners from both Pakistan and South Africa claimed 62 wickets collectively, while fast bowlers managed only nine.

Maharaj shared his thoughts during a virtual media interaction on Tuesday, saying, “I don’t expect the conditions to be as spin-friendly as they were in Pakistan. I anticipate good pitches that will gradually deteriorate as the matches progress, reflecting more traditional Test cricket conditions.”

In previous tours to India in 2015 and 2019, South Africa encountered pitches that heavily favored spin, allowing Indian bowlers like R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to dominate. However, Maharaj pointed out that India’s recent series against the West Indies displayed a shift, with pitches lasting into the fourth and fifth days, suggesting a change in approach regarding pitch preparation.

“Judging from the West Indies series, it seems India is focusing on preparing good cricket wickets. They are an exceptional team and have progressed significantly, especially with their recent transitions,” Maharaj noted.

Despite South Africa’s strong record in Test cricket, the team has not won a Test in India for over 15 years, coming up short in both 2015 and 2019. Maharaj acknowledged the formidable challenge of playing in India, but also viewed it as a valuable opportunity for self-assessment.

“There’s a strong desire in our camp to beat India on their home turf. It’s considered one of the toughest tours on the Proteas calendar across various generations. This will be a great opportunity to measure our progress. We have made strides in other parts of the subcontinent, and this is a challenge we are eager to take on,” Maharaj expressed.

He also emphasized the momentum gained from their recent performances in Pakistan, particularly in the second Test, where they proved they could contend regardless of the toss. “We’ve approached this cycle with precision and determination, just as we did in the previous cycle,” he concluded.