India vs South Africa: The Mind Games Begin

If you thought that the Indian cricket team's mindset has changed only as far as on-field aggression is concerned, think again. The team, which is a mix of experience and youth, seems to have learnt the art of mind games as well and what better series to employ those tactics in than the huge series vs the best travellers in world cricket, the South Africans. (Mayank Agarwal Shines as India A Stun South Africa in T20 Warm-up)

Ajinkya Rahane is a soft-spoken, reticent gentleman, but when asked about the upcoming series vs the Proteas, his answer was, "We will look to dominate them and play positive cricket and we are here to win the series."

Suresh Raina, who is the second most experienced player in the Indian T20 squad after MS Dhoni, threw down the gauntlet by declaring, "The Indian team's standard is very high."

The message is clear. The opposition might be tough, but Team India is ready to fight fire with fire against the Proteas as they prepare for the upcoming three T20 series and the mind games have already begun.

The South African do have some of the biggest limited overs match winners in world cricket. There are over 2500 T20 international runs just between AB de Villiers, David Miller and Faf du Plessis. They have even roped in the experienced Michael Hussey (who is T20 captain Faf du Plessis' teammate in the IPL) as a specialist batting consultant. That despite the fact that they already have a batting consultant in former India coach Gary Kirsten on a retainer for 50 days a year. (South Africa to Unleash Pace Attack, Says Russell Domingo)

The planning by the Proteas is evident but far from being concerned, the Indian camp sees all this as possible signs of weakness. In a press conference in Dharamsala ahead of the first T20, Raina said, "Their team is also under pressure. They know that the Indian team is an aggressive and dangerous team so they have to figure out their balance. They have just appointed Michael Hussey and they have had Gary Kirsten for quite some time too, so they are a bit rattled. We will just go and play normal cricket and hope to do well." Carefully planned out pre-series strategy? Mind games? Quite possibly. (Virat Kohli Can Break my Record, Says Sourav Ganguly)

Mind games ahead of any big series are not uncommon. Just ask the Australians who are renowned for it. Glenn McGrath, who was always rather aggressive on the field, has predicted a 5-0 whitewash in favour of Australia ahead of an Ashes series more than once, even after his retirement.

Over the years, the Indian team has usually been at the receiving end of such tactics. This time around though they seem to be on the front foot. Even the gen-next of Indian cricket seems to have got the same memo from the team management. After India 'A' thrashed a full strength South African T20 team in a warm-up match on Tuesday, captain Mandeep Singh simply said, "Great win for us, an eye opener for them".

The mind games might be part of a carefully thought out strategy, almost like the scheduling of the series perhaps. India after all have won 6 of the 8 T20s that they have played against South Africa. A big series win in the shortest format will be a huge shot in the arm ahead of the ODIs and Tests. (Shikhar Dhawan Happy to be Back in Form Ahead of South Africa Series)