This Indian team can win abroad: Ravi Shastri

India head coach Ravi Shastri said the upcoming series against South Africa, starting January, will be the perfect opportunity for skipper Virat Kohli and boys to prove themselves. The Indian team is on a roll, as they won majority of the series this year and are currently leading the Test series against Sri Lanka by a 1-0 margin. The sides will lock horns in the 3rd test in Delhi in a few days time.

India doesn’t have an impressive record in the rainbow nation. But Shastri believes this Indian team have the potential to compete and challenge the Proteas at their own backyard. The series will feature three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is.

Shastri confident of a good fight

India have won back-to-back series after the disappointment in the champions trophy finals in England against Pakistan. Kohli and his men have now beaten New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka and West Indies on a trott.

“South Africa tour will be an opportunity to prove ourselves. The key to success abroad is consistency. And this team has it in them to win abroad. I don’t see any reason why these boys can’t perform,” Shastri said at the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2017 event.

Former Aussie cricketer Matthew Hayden recently praised Shastri and expressed his opinion on the rapport between Kohli and the head coach. “I see a lot of changes and I see at the helm is a very good leader with excellent support staff. You can imagine the kind of conversations that Ravi Shastri (chief coach) and he will be having off the field. They would be very intelligent, robust discussions. They are two very passionate people and the support staff around Ravi as well.”

“You have to give a lot of credit to what I think is a very good appointment to Indian cricket. Some of them are wise, some who know the game well, who know the layers of the game, the impact the media can have. Ravi is a good solid individual,” Hayden said.