India will be a tough opponents for South Africa says Sri Lankan coach Nic Pothas

Sri Lankan coach Nic Pothas while addressing the media after the completion of the three-match T20I series said that India can give the South Africans a tough fight and he predicted that it will be a close contest if the Indian batsmen live up to the expectations against the lethal bowling line-up of South Africa.

India’s tour to South Africa will see the Kohli-led side face South Africa in 3 Tests, 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is starting January 5. According to Pothas, India is a complete side and has covered all the important bases that need to be addressed. With a good combination of seamers and spinners, Indian bowlers have the ability to pick wickets under any given conditions.

Pothas said, “They (India) have got all their bases covered. If you provide them with a green wicket they have got bowling attack to knock over other batting line-ups. If it’s a flat wicket, they have got those bases covered. If a wicket spins they have got their bases covered.”

Need to score the runs

According to the Lankan coach, Indian batsmen will have to score runs and that will make the series a very tough one for the hosts. “If the Indian batting line-up can get runs against South Africa, then South Africa is going to find them (India) very tough,” said South Africa born 44-year-old.

Interestingly, India have never won a Test series in South Africa in their earlier tours. Returning to South African side, AB de Villers recently said that Virat Kohli led Indian side will face them with an intention to create a history. India in 2011 had managed to draw the series 1-1 which is their best result in South Africa. De Villers has been out of Test cricket for almost two years now and is set to return to the side for a 4-day game against Zimbwabe.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn will also make a comeback during India’s tour and It will be an interesting battle between the South African seamers and Indian batsmen.