IND vs SA 2025: 'Proteas came to India with purpose and belief, not just to compete' - Veteran South African spinner
“As a South African, we’ve had some difficult times touring India—four Test tours in the past—and in our last two series we were comprehensively beaten," Tabraiz Shamsi recalled.
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South Africa scripted history during the two-Test series against India last month, whitewashing the Asian giants 2-0. This was just their second Test series triumph on Indian soil and first in 25 years. Veteran South African wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi recently revealed the success mantra for the World Test Champions.
According to Shamsi, the Proteas prepared well in advance for the tour of India, and the preceding trip to Pakistan helped them acclimatise to the subcontinental conditions.
“As a South African, we’ve had some difficult times touring India—four Test tours in the past—and in our last two series we were comprehensively beaten. So the guys put in a lot of work. They had good preparation going into this one. They toured Pakistan just before going to India, so they were already getting used to subcontinent conditions,” Shamsi told India Today.
Shamsi highlighted that the series win against India was a team effort, as many players stood out at different phases. He also praised Temba Bavuma for his leadership, noting that he had instilled belief among the players.
“What was really encouraging is that a couple of players stood out for us, but everyone else played strong supporting roles. They performed at crucial moments. Different guys scored runs, different guys took wickets. Temba Bavuma’s leadership has been outstanding as well. Everything just seemed to come together, and the players had that belief that they could beat India,” he said.
Even when they were behind, the guys pushed hard: Shamsi
Shamsi lauded the attitude of the South African players, mentioning that they fought hard even when they had their backs against the wall.
“This time around, the feeling within the team was completely different. Of course, they were World Test Champions, so you have to believe you can go to India and win. But the aura around the group wasn’t one of simply going there to honour the fixtures or thinking, ‘We’ll fight, but India will probably win.’ Instead, there was a real sense of purpose. Even when they were behind, the guys pushed hard. That attitude was really great to see,” Shamsi explained.
Shamsi spoke about the depth in the South African Test squad, citing how the team managed to hold its own despite missing the services of their talismanic pacer Kagiso Rabada due to an injury.
“There was a calm confidence and no reliance on just one or two players. For example, Kagiso Rabada—arguably the best bowler in the world—was injured and not even there, yet the team still found a way. That shows the depth within the squad and how different players were willing to step up and take responsibility. That’s the beauty of this Test team now,” he concluded.
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