Former South African great, Fanie de Villiers highlights the tactical brilliance of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah

As India gears up for the upcoming Boxing Day Test with eyes on a possible historic triumph in the Rainbow Nation, former South African great, Fanie de Villiers had an important message for Team India, underlining the kind of threat that they now pose to the South African cricket team.

The Men in Blue had an exceptional outing in the shorter formats of the game with the spoils shared in T20Is before clinching the ODI series with a fairly young squad. However, when it comes to Test cricket, it is altogether a different ball game and South Africa is one of the meanest machines that you will ever be up against.

In an exclusive interview with PTI for the Boxing Day Test, Fanie said, “Indian team has arrived in South Africa with its best ever chance (to win a series).” Even though India will be missing their key fast bowler, Mohammed Shami after he failed to regain full fitness in time, yet, Fanie believes that the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj is altogether a different gravy that poses an equally menacing threat to the hosts.

He further stated, “For the first time they have got fast bowlers, who can bowl 'the line' and not just hit the length. They can bowl on the imaginary 'fifth', 'sixth' off-stump line. If you can get at least four balls on that corridor, that's how you win Tests.”

Underlining the tactical brilliance of Siraj and Bumrah, Fanie added, “India have been coming for many years but very few of your fast bowlers were line bowlers. But now you have Bumrah and Siraj. Yes, I agree that Shami not playing makes a massive difference. But Siraj and Bumrah are bowlers who can bowl line, whereas South African bowlers bowl from off to leg stump.”

He concluded by drawing a stark contrast between the Indian pace battery and the formidable South Africa bowling unit, stating, “Because they (Proteas pacers) are youngsters running and trying to bowl fast. Only Rabada can bowl that good line, I think India have got the best chance ever."