Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) legend AB de Villiers has said that the West Indies batters will have to score a good amount of runs if they are to challenge India in the Test series as well. According to him, if the visitors fail to put together partnerships and get runs as well. However, India will take on the West Indies in the opening Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which begins on Thursday (October 2).

AB de Villiers said on his YouTube channel: “Playing over in India, it’s never easy to bat guys, when you get yourself in, you really got to cash in and make it work, and I think that will be the focus for team West Indies because they know if they can get runs on the board, they can compete.”

“If the batters don’t perform over there, you might as well pack your bags and go home because the Indian bowling attack will take wickets, and they will put you under pressure. So, if you get those partnerships going, get the runs on the board to give your bowlers an opportunity to carry those catches around the bat, that is the name of the game for the spinners. Over there in India, you need to have your catches in place. That is the name of the game for the spinners over there in India, you need to have your catches in place,” he further added.

“I remember last time this or this time of the year, last year, that is when New Zealand thrashed India 3-0 in a Test series. So, the Windies will maybe take a little bit of confidence from that. No one thought that India was beatable in India over the last 10-12 years, right? They’ve been sort of invincible to certain extent, and New Zealand changed that, and maybe if West Indies analyse that very well, that will figure out a couple of areas of weakness that they can focus on. Finger spinners do exceptionally well there. I think that will be a big focus for the West Indies. They’ve got Roston Chase and a few others,” AB de Villiers concluded.