India vs South Africa: Indian pace attack surprised us, says AB de Villiers

Johannesburg, January 18: South African batsman AB de Villiers found a positive for India in what has been a thoroughly disappointing Test campaign here so far -- their "lively pace attack", which he says has surprised the hosts.

The Proteas took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with comprehensive wins in Cape Town and Centurion.

Dev slams Pandya

"India have really impressed me. They have surprised us in terms of pace bowling. They have showed a lot more skill and definitely, there is a lot more pace than we expected," de Villiers said on Thursday, at an event to launch the Pink ODI against India on February 10.

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The batting genius, whose knocks proved crucial in both the Tests, said he is enjoying his return to the five-day cricket and lauded the Proteas for their all-round show. "Test cricket is the ultimate challenge. It was very enjoyable to be part of a really important and good series win. I think it was a great team effort from everyone, from the fielders, to the bowlers, and to big pressure moments with the bat in hand.

"It was just an all-round good team performance. I am obviously enjoying my cricket and loving it out there with the boys. It has been a great couple of Test matches," he said.

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Talking about his physical fitness after returning to the longer format for the first time since December 2015, the former South African said, "It feels like my debut back in 2004 when I started as an opening batsman, then a keeper at No 7 and back to opening, and up and down.

"My body is feeling right at the moment. I do have niggles but that is part of Test cricket. You never get up feeling a 100 per cent. The back is still there, the ankles and knees, everything is hurting at times but to be playing the ultimate form of the game again, it has been a great challenge."

De Villiers has the most runs in the series so far, scoring 200 in four innings inclusive of two match-defining half-centuries at Cape Town and Centurion. Only Virat Kohli has matched up to him with 153 in the first innings of the second Test.

"Virat's knock in the first innings was very, very good. I did congratulate him afterwards. But there were quite a few guys who contributed as well. Faf du Plessis got a half-century and Dean Elgar played a very good hand too," he said.

"We are now looking forward to the Test at Wanderers, which has more bounce and pace compared to the Centurion wicket. Overall, it was a really good Test. We adapted well to the conditions and did what we needed to do," added de Villiers.

De Villiers, however, the South African top-order should score more in the coming match, starting January 24 in Johannesburg. "We have tried to do that over the last few Test matches, but the wicket didn't allow it and some good bowling as well. It is credit to the Indian bowlers," he added.

When asked about his free-scoring ways on two tough wickets, the star batsman responded, "I watch the ball and just play. I have always said that I don't feel there's a big difference between the three formats.

"It is just a mindset of applying yourself to the wicket and conditions. That's always been the way that I have played. So it is definitely not something that I force."

Not a chaser of records by his own admission, de Villiers said he is happy to miss out if the team ends up on the winning side. "I don't go out there to get hundreds. If I can get out there and contribute 50s and 60s, I take that. Unfortunately for me it was one of those Tests in the last one. But another opportunity, another Test match is coming up to contribute to the team...If I get to score a hundred doing so then it's a bonus," he explained.

Aiden Markram also scored 94 in the first innings. Lungi Ngidi took 6-39 as India were bowled out for 151 in their 287-run chase. Kagiso Rabada has been ever-present in the South African bowling attack in both Tests. De Villiers said that the Proteas now have a good mix of young and old, youth and seniority to drive the team forward.

"I have been extremely impressed by them, the way they have come in and the maturity Aiden and Lungi have shown. KG (Rabada) is obviously the number one bowler in the world and still a youngster.

"In my eyes, he just started off the other day and has shown the maturity of a guy who has played 10 seasons," he said.

The 33-year-old said he enjoys being the mentor to younger players coming into the side. "Hopefully one day they will remember 'that old guy who had a good impact on me'. Faf has been leading the side well, there is confidence, and it is easy to fit in as the senior player.

"I was captain not long ago and I know what the captain needs from his senior players. All of us have been leaders in the past and I think we really work together well as a team," he elaborated.