India vs South Africa: Spin is King, Demand for Turning Pitches Dominate Build-Up to Tests

Mahendra Singh Dhoni does not mince words when he talks about the kind of surfaces India should play on. During the recent ODI series, the Indian limited overs skipper reiterated that spin was the king in India. "Every place has its specialty. When you come to the sub-continent, or to India, you expect turning tracks," Dhoni said. (Our Bowlers Did Not Get Much Help from the Pitch: MS Dhoni)

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV that there is no harm if pitches suit the home team. In this backdrop, with India having lost the Twenty20 and ODI series, Virat Kohli has the task to turn the fortunes of the team around in the Tests. Kohli, who was instrumental in leading India to a series win in Sri Lanka after 22 years, has his task cut out. (Sunil Gavaskar, Saurashtra Cricket Association in War of Words over Rajkot Pitch)

The Test venues are Mohali, Bangalore, Nagpur and Delhi. Barring Mohali to a certain extent, the rest of the pitches offer decent help to the spinners. In the last home Test series that India played in 2013 against the West Indies, the likes of Mohammed Shami, a pace bowler, and Pragyan Ojha, a left-arm spinner, reaped rich rewards in Mumbai and Kolkata. (Why Ravindra Jadeja Deserves a Test Recall)

Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin were the chief destroyers during India's 4-0 whitewash of Australia in 2013.

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Dangerous spin twins Ashwin and Jadeja

However, if one has to gauge the impact of rank turners, one needs to go back a bit further and reflect on the performance during the series against Australia. The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shredded the Australians apart with their guile and spin. Both bowlers picked up 29 and 24 wickets, respectively, to help India to a 4-0 whitewash.

Jadeja's selection into the Test team after a gap of one year might possibly be a result of what he did to Australia on turning decks. While Ashwin flummoxed and confounded the batsmen on a regular basis, Jadeja's fastish and flat wicket-to-wicket bowling, combined with a hint of turn, made life miserable for Australia. Just ask Michael Clarke, who got out to him in five out of six innings.

Jadeja's qualities make him the favorite to feature in his first home Test since the Australia series in 2013. His Ranji Trophy performances have been phenomenal. In three games, the Saurashtra all-rounder has taken 37 wickets at an incredible average of nine. With six consecutive five-wicket hauls on the rank turners of Rajkot, a similar impact might be expected from him in the upcoming series.

Imran Tahir will be a threat on turning pitches, with Sachin Tendulkar cautioning the Indian team about Tahir's effectiveness.

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South Africans Better Players of Spin

However, Jadeja's haul can be interpreted in two ways. One, he got his wickets on turners against weak oppositions. Two, the nature of the wickets is such that it suits his style of bowling. However, the Tests against South Africa will represent a different ball game altogether. And many top order Proteas batsmen play spin better than the West Indians or the Australians.

In the recent past, the demand for rank turners backfired spectacularly on the Indian team. During the Wankhede Test against England in 2012, Dhoni had asked for a rank turner in order to consolidate the advantage but Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann spectacularly turned the tables on them.

With the likes of Nathan Lyon, Rangana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal troubling the Indian batsmen in the recent past, going for a rank turner could be counter-productive. Remember, South Africa have a quality leg-spinner like Imran Tahir. You need 10 good balls to destroy a batting line-up no matter how competent and skillful it is.

India must play to their strengths of home comforts. The batsman have to step up and tackle spin confidently. They will be hoping that Jadeja's addition gives them the boost with both bat and ball. The time for India's turnaround is now or never.