“India showed the cricket world that they are a much-improved team while playing on bouncy and seamer-friendly pitches. They are going to become a force also away from home.” Omar Henry, 69, South Africa’s first coloured Test cricketer, uttered these words to mid-day after Virat Kohli’s team triumphed over the hosts in the third and final Test at Johannesburg in January 2018. India’s memorable win on an ultra-challenging Wanderers surface did not prevent the Proteas from winning the series 2-1, but India went on to win three overseas series (two in Australia and one in the West Indies) after that, apart from leading England 2-1 in the last Pataudi Trophy. A stumbling block came in the form of the 2018 series in England and the two-match Test series during the 2019-20 season in New Zealand.

Henry, the former left-arm spinner, reckoned the two series wins in Australia will play a big role in their three-Test South African challenge which begins in Centurion on Sunday. He is also aware that India have yet to win a series in South Africa. “I believe India have a window to break that losing sequence if they utilise their pace department well,” Henry said from Cape Town. He didn’t sound too optimistic about the visitors’ batting unit which has lost Rohit Sharma through injury. With Ajinkya Rahane woefully short of runs and one-drop Cheteshwar Pujara just not getting the big scores he is known for, India’s batting doesn’t look awesome.