IND vs SA | This series will tell me how good I am, says Keshav Maharaj
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Orthodox left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who will be leading South Africa in the spin department, believes that the upcoming three-match Test series against India will tell him if he is good enough for international cricket. He also added that reverse swing will be key in the Indian conditions.
Keshav Maharaj, South Africa's most experienced spinner, hopes to be as consistent as the seasoned Indian duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin during the upcoming Test series starting on Wednesday. The orthodox left-arm spinner, who has picked up 94 wickets from 25 Tests, had a successful county performance, is hoping to make life "uncomfortable" for the Indian top-order.
"It is nice that people speak highly of you. Look at Jadeja and Ashwin. Ashwin has got a lot of variations and Jadeja keeps it simple but the key is consistency and that make it uncomfortable for the batsmen. I can (want to) emulate that going forward and do my job from one end," said Maharaj to the PTI, who is on his maiden Test tour of India.
"You got to expect the ball to turn in the sub-continent and that is why people carry an extra spinner here. As far as bowling to Indian batsmen goes, you can only Test yourself against the best. The series will tell me how good I am and if I belong here in international cricket," he added.
Maharaj further revealed that “reverse swing will be key” in the series and should it start to reverse, he fears players like Mohammad Shami will become unplayable but asserted that they also possess lethal bowlers “who can utilise the conditions.” South Africa’s pace attack includes the likes of Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje.
With Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out of the series due to a stress fracture in the lower back, India is deprived of their lethal weapon in the bowling attack. Maharaj believes India will miss his services badly.
South Africa got a decent hit in the middle in the one-off practice game despite the rain with Aiden Markram (100), Temba Bavuma (87) and Philander (47) getting some much needed in the middle. Maharaj also managed to stike thrice in that game, thus accounting for very good practice.
"It was important that our batters got some time in the middle. They have been working on how to tackle Indian conditions and it is nice to get a hit," he said.
South Africa were hammered in India four years ago with Jadeja and Ashwin wreaking havoc, winning the four-match series 3-0. However, Maharaj said the new-look South African team is not dwelling over the past and asserted that they are here to give India some stiff competition.
"If you look at the freshness in the side, there is a hell lot of a new faces and that can work for us. There is no point looking back and things may not got our way. But we are here to compete," he concluded.
