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Biff: SA conditions will test India

Cape Town - India’s Test team may be on a roll, but they could be up against it when they face the Proteas in South African conditions.

READ: The Proteas bowler who may turn 'batsman'

That is the view of former Proteas captain and opening batsman Graeme Smith.

India’s recent 1-0 series win over Sri Lanka saw them equal Australia's record of nine successive Test series victories, achieved between 2005-2008.

However, the those series were all played in conditions that suit the Indians and Smith expects them to struggle on the faster services in South Africa.

“The pace and skills of our bowlers here will be the real test for them. It will be really interesting,” Smith told Netwerk24.

“India’s own pace attack will also have to do well in order for them to have success here.”

Meanwhile, legendary former India batsman Rahul Dravid believes his former team have a "great chance" of achieving their maiden Test series success in South Africa because of the depth in their squad.

"I think we have a great chance this time looking at the depth of the current side,” he said.

“We have got some quality quicks, we have the opportunity of playing the all-rounder (Hardik Pandya) if we need to. 

"We have got quality spinners in (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Ravichandran) Ashwin. What also excites me is that all our batsmen have been to South Africa before and they have the experience of 40-50 Tests. 

"Having said that, you do need a bit of luck in those conditions, bit of rub of the green. If we get that, I am very confident about our chances." 

India will face South Africa in three Tests, starting in Cape Town on January.

The second Test is scheduled for Centurion on January 13 and the third in Johannesburg on January 24.

The Test series will be followed by six ODIs and two three T20Is.

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