By Admin 
Graeme Smith has played enough cricket in the sub-continent, and knows the conditions well. So, as South Africa gears up for its two-Test series against India, beginning in Kolkata from Friday, the former captain has a piece of advice for the touring side – find a way to deal with Jasprit Bumrah’s opening spell before the Indian spinners come into the play.
“Getting off to a solid start, having a top three that can lay a platform for you (is crucial). There’s nothing worse than if you go two or three down and then the spinners come on and you’re against the game already. So, countering Bumrah up front is going to be a big thing, and (Kagiso) Rabada as well for India. They’re world-class bowlers with world-class Test records,” Smith said on the sidelines of the SA20 Media Day.
While the onus will be on Bumrah and Rabada to get things done, Smith admits that on Indian conditions, the visiting team will eventually be put to test by the spinners. To make the most of the conditions, South Africa has picked three seasoned spinners — Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy — in its ranks, and Smith believes that the touring team has a formidable bowling line-up that can put India to test.
Faf du Plessis, however, believes that a lot will depend on how the team handles the situation in the first Test in Kolkata.
“South Africa arrived in India with confidence. They are the No. 1 Test team in the world, and that means a lot. But confidence also quickly goes, when you play one Test match and you lose that confidence. Sport strains like that — one moment you feel like you’re in such great form, and then a week later, you feel like you’re out of form. So, it’s great that we’re coming in with it (the confidence). But how we deal with that first Test match will be very important for the series,” he said.