Indian Test cricket captain Anil Kumble is confident about his team meeting the challenge from the visiting South African team in the three-match series beginning from March 26.
Chennai, Mar 23 : Indian Test cricket captain Anil Kumble is confident about his team meeting the challenge from the visiting South African team in the three-match series beginning from March 26.
Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, Kumble said the players had been playing good cricket and had performed exceptionally well in the last one year.
"As a team, we have jelled very well. We have very good results in the last one-year or so. Especially in test cricket, we have done exceptionally well throughout the last three or four years. It's important to take the momentum forward. In terms of the team, I can assure you that there is nothing as seniors (versus) juniors," he said.
Spiking further controversy and putting to rest the seniors versus juniors' debate, Kumble dismissed the matter as media sensationalism and said that the focus would be to play to the full potential, be committed to the roles and work for the success of the team.
"I think the senior, junior (controversy) is going on for too long. It's not definitely what the team thinks. This is what the media has made out to be," he added.
Earlier, South African team's skipper Graeme Smith said that his team was looking forward to a close series in India and would carry forward the momentum gained from successes in Pakistan last year and Bangladesh recently.
Former South Africa opening batsman Gary Kirsten will begin his innings as Team India coach with the forthcoming series beginning in Chennai from March26.
The final two test matches would be played at Ahmedabad and Kanpur on April 3 and 11 respectively.
Meanwhile, the Indian squad upbeat after the recent success against the Australians had a long practice session in the Chidambaram Stadium.
The Indian squad for the series against South Africa includes Anil Kumble, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Wasim Jaffer, Murali Kartik, V V S Laxman, Irfan Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Vireder Sehwag, Rudra Pratap Singh, Sreesanth, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh.
South African squad includes Graeme Smith, Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Monde Zondeki, Charl Langeveldt.
ANI