India coach Rahul Dravid has urged his players to seize the chance to claim a first ever test series win in South Africa, a moment that could be career de-fining for many in the team as they prepare for the first test in Pretoria on Sunday.
India have enjoyed recent success in Australia and England, but South Africa remains a mighty challenge for the top ranked test side, though they will arguably never have had a better chance against a home team going through a transition period and with far less experience than in the past.
“It is a great challenge and a great opportunity for everyone,” Dravid told reporters on Saturday. “It is something you look forward to as a batsman, the chance to play away from home and test yourself against some really good opposition in their home conditions.
“A lot of your career is defined by those sorts of performances, so it is a great opportunity for every-one in the group to put in the performances that are something that they can remember, and people will remember them for.