New Delhi: India's batsmen may have had a torrid time so far during their South Africa tour, but Gautam Gambhir feels that the men in blue have the ability to bounce back and redeem their reputation.
“They have only lost two matches so far. It is not a very big deal. The team have the ability to bounce back and do well in the remaining matches. We have done well earlier and there is no reason we can't do it again,“ Gambhir said on the sidelines of a promotional event for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on Friday. “South Africa are a very good team and are very difficult to play against, especially in their own backyard.
The wickets are very different from what we have in the subcontinent, and given the quality of the South African pace bowling, they are a formidable side in their home conditions,“ he added.
Gambhir also felt that the Indian batsmen would need loads of grit and mental toughness in order to well in South African conditions.
“When you play on pitches like those in South Africa, you need to show a lot of mental toughness. You have to be gutsy and have the grit to succeed in adverse conditions. One needs to have the ability to go out and hang in there despite all odds,“ the left-hander said.
The 32-year-old asserted that the bowlers would also have to play a key role in order to ensure that the Indian team do well during the upcoming Test series.
“The batsmen need to score well but they can only set it up for the bowlers. It's the bowlers who need to take wickets in order to win the matches,“ he said.
Gambhir recently scored 153 while playing for Delhi against Haryana in a Ranji Trophy encounter on a green-top at the Roshanara Club in the capital.
