Former England cricketer Monty Panesar said that India is the favourite to win the upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa. He again added that despite the Proteas will play at home, Team India are much stronger this time as well. He, however, said that this series is the best chance for Team India to register their maiden Test series victory in South Africa as they have never won a series in South Africa yet.

“I think India have got a great chance. They seem like a favourite to win that series. They know how to win now away from India and that is to do with Ravi Shastri’s coaching philosophy. He really instilled that belief, the motivation to say guys any situation we are going to fight and if you are in a dominant position then we are going to keep our foot on the throat,” he said.

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“So, I think it is still there within this Indian team and this will be historic for Indian cricket for them to win their first series in South Africa and this is their best chance. They have got a stronger team. Their team is much stronger than the South Africans. I think India are firm favourites to win the series,” Monty Panesar again added.

Monty Panesar also backed India’s Test captain Virat Kohli as he has been going through a rough patch and also couldn’t score a hundred for quite long. Apart from that, his recent statements before the series irrupted controversies too.

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“I think he will be very motivated because he knows that if he does not score a lot of runs in Test cricket then that position could be up for grabs as well. So, he is under pressure to perform but he needs to do well and actually get some wins and even India are winning and he does not score the runs that still is a positive for Virat Kohli because he knows how to get the best out of an individual,” Monty Panesar concluded.