Former India pacer Ashish Nehra, who hung his boots from international cricket couple of weeks back, reckons that the green top at the Eden Gardens for the first Test between India and Sri Lanka will help Virat Kohli and his men to prepare for the forthcoming South Africa tour starting January 2018.

Talking about the pitch, the veteran pacer said, “The Eden wicket is good preparation for India’s tour of South Africa. There the ball will have carry and lateral movement. This wicket is giving them a good test of roughly what lies ahead.”

Asked how India will plan to face fit-again Dale Steyn who is expected to return after a one-year gap, and Kagiso Rabada, Nehra replied: “I don’t think India will be under pressure in South Africa. I hear a lot of talk about that but if they have Steyn and Rabada, we have Kohli and he is always ready to perform against adversity.”

Nehra went on to say that Mohammed Shami was India’s answer to Steyn. He said, “I expect Shami to come good in South Africa. They have Dale Steyn and overall are a good bowling unit but we have Shami and he is very good too.”

Coming to the Sri Lanka Test on the green top at Eden, Nehra said nothing was lost yet and there was no need to panic. Lankan pacer Suranga Lakmal wrecked havoc by sending openers K.L. Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli to the dressing room. At stumps, the hosts reeled at 17/3 in 11.5 overs.

The wicket had a lot of carries and seem movement which helped Lakmal in his act. Nehra said, “It’s a good wicket. As I said, good preparation for South Africa. There is nothing to fear for India though as Sri Lanka would have to bat also. The par score would be 200-220 on this track.”