They have been mauled in the ODI series, not a ball could be bowled in the practice game, and the South African pacemen are breathing fire. The signs are not at all good but there's a sense of purpose in the body language of the Indian players. They are putting in long hours in practice and everyone is looking desperate for a turnaround after the ODI debacle.
But it's easier said than done. For the first time in two decades, India are going into an away series without their batting stalwarts. "How are you guys going to cope with this South African attack without Sachin Tendulkar?" It's a question that's being asked repeatedly and skipper MS Dhoni is facing it calmly. "When he was playing in Mumbai, we knew it would be his last. It's something that we have accepted and are looking to move on," Dhoni said, the smile intact.
The middle-order is thoroughly inexperienced and queries about the replacement for the No. 4 slot are still going unanswered.
"You have to wait and see," the skipper says, even though the sheet with the batting-order stuck on the wall of the dressing-room suggests that it's Virat Kohli. But ask the men in question — Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane — and they will give you an "I don't know" look. There's another ghost that keeps chasing this Indian team — the 0-8 combined Test debacle in England and Australia. Since that Australia series which ended
in January 2012, India haven't played a single away series and Dhoni was asked whether the humiliation still affects the team.
The skipper said it doesn't. "There's no point carrying a baggage, be it our winning 6-0 home record or a 0-8 away record, past is past," the skipper said.
He is not keen to give out information on the playing XI, but it's likely to be a 7-4 combination. Ishant Sharma, Shami Ahmed and Zaheer Khan are likely to be in charge of the pace attack while R Ashwin will be the lone spinner.
But then those are more of deductions by the media, as opposed to the forthright announcement of the South African team management. SA skipper Graeme Smith preferred showing his cards when he announced that the same XI that played against Pakistan in the last Test in UAE will take the field on Wednesday. It means leg-spinner Imran Tahir gets a go, despite the pitch being pacer-friendly.
Despite the conditions, India haven't done too badly at the Wanderers, winning a Test here in 2006. The South African media reminded Smith of that shock loss when they were bundled out for less than 100 in the first innings.
He spoke about the seam movement that the Indian bowlers got in that match. "The Wanderers is effective for all bowlers. It's not only the bounce, but there is also a little bit of movement that benefits the seam bowlers if they pitch it in the right areas. I think Sreesanth bowled really well, if my memory serves me correct," he said.
Sreesanth is not there in this lineup anymore while Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander are masters of that art. The advantage, quite clearly is with South Africa.
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