India will be under pressure to justify their No 1 ranking by winning away from home when they play second-placed South Africa in a three-test series starting at Centurion on Thursday.
India have not lost a home series since going down 2-1 to Australia in 2004, but their away form has been less impressive and South Africa captain Graeme Smith said they were under pressure to show they could win in foreign conditions.
India have won just one of 12 tests in South Africa.
"If you are the No 1 side, then you need to perform consistently around the world, like Australia did when they beat teams in their own backyards. The pressure is on India to show that they can hack it over here," Smith told a news conference on Wednesday.
Overcast and rainy weather should suit South Africa's fast bowlers even more and India's batsmen face a stern trial by pace, bounce, seam and swing on a pitch totally unlike the surfaces they are used to at home.
"The conditions will be very different, it's not the normal turning tracks we are used to. But it is an opportunity to prove ourselves, to go to the next level. That's the challenge and we must not think about the adverse conditions too much," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.
India are pondering the fitness of left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, whose absence would be a severe blow in their bid to match a South African attack spearheaded by top-ranked test bowler Dale Steyn.
TAKING NO RISKS
Zaheer, who has a hamstring strain, would be replaced by uncapped left-armer Jaidev Unadkat or Umesh Yadav, and Dhoni suggested his strike bowler would not be risked with the World Cup ony two months away.
"Zaheer is doubtful and we will make a call on the morning of the game," Dhoni said. "He has been our best bowler, he has led our attack in whatever conditions, so it is a blow.
"But we need to see the bigger picture, we have to think about the World Cup too, it is so close and a major injury to one of our best XI will put us in trouble. If we are not 100% sure he is fit, we will not risk him," Dhoni said.
Rain prevented both South Africa and India from practising on Wednesday but, like his counterpart Graeme Smith, Dhoni said the major preparation had already been done and that only a light practice would have been held on the day before the game.
Although India did not have a warm-up match, Dhoni said he was happy with his team's preparation.
"What is important is that in the time we have got we have made the best possible use of it."
Dhoni said the toss could give an advantage to the captain calling correctly.
"We had a look at the pitch from a distance yesterday and it looked to be a bit damp. Without the sun, it will stay damp and the fast bowlers will get something out of it. If we win the toss it will be 60-40 in our favour."
The Indian captain said that being the No 1 test team, playing against their nearest challengers, did not add unusual pressure on his team.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
"We are always under pressure," he said.
"That is something that goes hand in hand with being the Indian cricket team. It doesn't matter whether we are against Zimbabwe or any other side, we are always under pressure because the expectation levels back home are really high."
Asked whether he felt the focus on the current Ashes series between Australia and England was somewhat insulting to a battle between the two top-ranked teams, Dhoni took a philosophical view.
"When you talk about the Ashes it is a traditional rivalry. It is the same case when we play against Pakistan, the attention is on us. I think it is fair enough. What is important for us is to do well in the series." For the South Africans, captain Graeme Smith, who broke his hand in the test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last month, will take his place at the top of the South African order.
"I made a much quicker recovery than expected and I'm really excited to come through because this is going to be a big series to be part of," Smith said.
"We've flitted between No 1 and No 2 in the rankings over the last couple of years, so this is a really exciting opportunity for us.
"We pride ourselves on performing in these big series, there's a lot of quality on both sides and even on the field, it's exciting to be part of it," Smith added.
Probable teams
South Africa - Graeme Smith (capt), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Ryan McLaren or Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris.
India - Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan or Jaidev Unadkat, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma.
Additional reporting: Sapa-AFP
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