Exclusive: Proteas are Out to Silence Critics on Tough India Tour, says Ryan Rickelton

Proteas Test batter Ryan Rickelton acknowledges that they have a target on their back ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against India. 

Rickelton says if they grab one Test victory in India, they would have done themselves justice, given the critics directed their way after winning the World Test Championship without playing India, Australia and England last cycle.

The critics

Before South Africa played Australia at Lord’s in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June, there were narratives being thrown around that suggested that South Africa had an easy route to the final, having not played India, Australia and England.

The critics further suggested the fact that South Africa did not play in the subcontinent, excluding Bangladesh, where they whitewashed the hosts 2-0, thus making their road to the WTC final a lot easier.

In the ongoing cycle, the Proteas have two back-to-back subcontinent Test tours, one against Pakistan that has recently been concluded, where South Africa drew the two-match series 1-1, and an upcoming series against India at Eden Gardens and Guwahati, respectively.

After the India series, the Proteas will have one more Test series in the subcontinent, in Sri Lanka. Thereafter, the rest of their Tests in the cycle will be in South Africa as they are set to host Australia and England at home.

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.co.za, Rickelton emphasised that they are aware of the talks from critics and added that they would want to win at least one Test in India and return home with a series draw or a win.

“I’ve been reading a lot of the articles saying about the last cycle that we didn't have any subcontinent-tours or we didn't have an India or Pakistan subcontinent-tour. So, the target is always going to be on our back about it, especially how we handle ourselves in Pakistan and India,” Rickelton told SportsBoom.co.za.  

“Obviously, this will be a different and probably more emphasis on this (India) tour, considering we managed to win one in Pakistan."

“So, I think there will always be a bit of a target on our backs, and there will always be people saying that we had an easy last cycle."

“If we can win a Test match in India and walk away with 1-1 or ideally aiming for 2-0. But India are also allowed to play well, especially in their backyard, that's a great start to our sub-tour as well, and we've only got incoming Test matches after that."

“So, from a Test team point of view, if we can grab a win away, obviously, ideally we need to grab two, but if we can get one and come back home and make sure we win our home games, I think we've done ourselves justice and I think we've played relatively well within the subcontinent.”

As defending champions in the Test arena, every Test team has an added motivation to beat South Africa, and India, too will be itching to make a statement by beating South Africa in the series. 

However, with South Africa likely to have their captain, Temba Bavuma, back from injury for the India Tests, South Africa will be an even stronger bunch. 

South Africa’s two-match Test series against India is set to get underway with the First Test in Eden Gardens and conclude with the second Test in Guwahati.