Adapting to bouncy tracks, key to success: Bhuvneshwar

Bhuvneshwar noted that the pace bowling group would discuss strategies and plans for each of the South Africa batsmen a few days before the first Test. © Getty

If we turn back the pages in history, India embarked on their historic tour to South Africa in 1992-93. On tracks that offered pace and bounce, the Indian team struggled to perform against a formidable pace attack comprising, Allan Donald and Brett Schultz as they slipped to a 1-0 series loss. Since then they have toured the country on five more occasions but without a Test series victory under their belt.

However, the current Indian set-up exudes confidence as they embark on a challenging tour of the African nation. The visitors have remained unbeaten over a stretch of 10 Test series and possess a useful seam attack comprising Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma.

Bhuvneshwar, India's premier swing bowler, also sounded confident while sharing his views on the visiting team's preparations ahead of the first of the three-match Test series in Cape Town, starting on January 5. The 27-year-old stressed upon the need to adjust to bouncy tracks of South Africa and noted that they are looking at ways to simulate such conditions in practice sessions.

"The first thing that comes to our mind about bowling in South Africa is bouncy wickets, seaming wickets. But you can't be sure we are going to get such wickets. When it comes to bowlers, Kookaburra is one of the toughest balls to bowl with as it doesn't do much after 25-30 overs, these are the kind of situations we are tackling with," he said.

The affable swing bowler also noted that the pace bowling group would discuss strategies and plans for each of the South Africa batsmen a few days before the Test.

"We haven't talked [pace bowling group] so far. We are trying to do basic things. A couple of days before the Test match, we will see how to go into the Test match, what are the things we can bring into the Test, regarding strategies, regarding their batsmen. These are the things we will definitely do, but for now we are trying to do the basic things," he observed.

India have been on a winning streak over a period of more than two years. Incidentally, the last time they lost a Test series was against Australia in 2014-15. Promising players coming through the ranks have grabbed their opportunities when selected. The point can be evidenced by how Bumrah, who earned his maiden Test call-up into the India squad for the South Africa tour, immediately made an impact in the international arena (6 wickets at 17.16 in three T20Is) during the limited overs tour of Australia in 2015-16.

On his part, Bhuvneshwar, too, noted that the players coming through the system have grabbed their opportunities when picked to play for India. "That is the reason we are confident of doing well in South Africa, wherever we played, whoever played, they did well. So, we have bowlers who have done well over the last two years, that is the reason why we are confident of doing well in this series," he said.