Former India captain and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has backed India to win their maiden Test series in South Africa due to the absence of key pacers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje. After the ongoing ODI series, Team India will play two Tests, starting at Centurion on December 26. Notably, India have never won a Test series in South Africa as well.

Speaking to Star Sports after India’s stunning win in the opening ODI, Gavaskar said, “Look at South Africa, they are without two of their best bowlers. No Nortje, no Rabada. Now this means that the Indian batting line-up can, if they play sensibly, they should be able to put up 400, 400-plus scores without too much of an issue.”

However, Sunil Gavaskar warned the Indian batters to be careful against the new ball before opening their hands in relatively better conditions later.

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“Yes, initially, it will be little bit tough while the ball is shinny red and with the bounce. But that’s what Test cricket is all about. That’s why you’ve got five days. They need to bat well. If they keep scoring 300 and 500, they will give their bowlers enough of an opportunity to be able to knock the South Africans in both the innings,” he stated.

While Team India faced relatively closer 2-1 defeats in the 2018 and 2021 Test series in South Africa, Sunil Gavaskar said that the 2018 one was India’s best opportunity to win as well.

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“I think this is probably the best opportunity. 2018 was where I thought they should be winning. They really should have won in 2018. They had the best lineup not so much two years ago, but 2018 was where they missed out on big time on winning the series,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.