It has been 15 long years since South Africa last won a Test match in India, but spinner Keshav Maharaj believes the Proteas are determined to change that when they take on Shubman Gill’s men in the upcoming two-match Test series, starting November 14 in Kolkata. The second Test will be played in Guwahati.
Speaking ahead of the series, Maharaj said the squad is motivated and united by a shared goal — ending their winless streak in India. “There’s a real hunger and desire within the camp to beat India in India,” he said as quoted by PTI. “It’s probably one of the toughest tours, if not the toughest, in the Proteas calendar for every generation that’s come here. We see it as one of our biggest tests and a chance to measure how far we’ve come.”
The left-arm spinner pointed out that South Africa has begun to find success elsewhere in the subcontinent, and the players see this tour as the next step in their growth. “We’ve started to conquer other parts of the subcontinent,” he said. “This is one assignment we really want to take on.”
The Proteas have struggled on Indian soil in recent years, losing both the 2015 and 2019 series without registering a win. Maharaj, however, expects the conditions this time to be slightly more balanced. Unlike the turning tracks they faced previously, he anticipates “good, traditional Test wickets” that will offer something for both batters and bowlers.
“I don’t think it will be as spin-friendly as we experienced in Pakistan,” Maharaj said. “The pitches in India now tend to deteriorate gradually, as we saw in the West Indies series. I think the narrative is changing — teams are looking for competitive wickets that last four or five days.”
Despite India’s dominance at home, Maharaj remains optimistic. He believes South Africa’s recent experience in Pakistan, where their spinners helped level the series after losing the opener, has instilled confidence in the squad.
“We’re carrying momentum from that series,” he said. “Regardless of conditions or the toss, we’ve shown we can fight. There’s real precision and purpose in how we’re preparing. We’re ready to test ourselves against the best.”
