Proteas opening batsman Aiden Markram is convinced that they can turn around their red-ball fortunes in India.
The last time South Africa visited India for a Test series, they came back with their tail between their legs.
Not only did they lose that 2015/16 four-match series 3-0, but so bad was their batsmen on the spinning India tracks that only AB de Villiers got get past 50 runs in four Tests.
He did so twice, once in the rained-out second Test.
Markram, though, says the past counts for nothing and that the new group of Proteas can spin a success story.
With the first Test starting next week, Markram says: “I remember watching that series a few years ago and it looked incredibly difficult.
“And I’m sure there’s a bit of baggage that certain players that were on that tour might still be carrying, but that’s completely fine.
BIG SHOES TO FILL: AB de Villiers. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix.
“I think it’s never an easy tour coming to anywhere in the subcontinent, let alone India.
“It’s full of challenges, but if we can conquer those challenges it will be really rewarding.
“The guys are positive and upbeat and we’re maintaining a really good language in the changeroom, a really strong language.
“At the end of the day, we’re not going to harp on about conditions, we pretty much know what to expect and we just need to get the job done.”