Ravichandran Ashwin is Our Main Threat in Tests : Faf du Plessis

Ashwin was India's best bowler in the historic Test series win in Sri Lanka and
will be key to India's chances at home against South Africa

The South African Top Order Batsman Faf du Plessis has singled out Ravichandran Ashwin, India's leading spinner, as the main threat to the touring side, who face the hosts in a four-Test series, starting on November 5. Du Plessis reckons the visitors' success will be directly proportional to how the batsmen deal with Ashwin.

Ravichandran Ashwin is Our Main Threat in Tests : Faf du Plessis 

"Ashwin is our main threat, but we will plan really well. The way we play Ashwin in this series will definitely determine our success in this series. He is an outstanding spinner but I feel we played him well (in T20s). Now, its a case of Test cricket, but with the conditions he will get a little more turn," du Plessis said.

With wins in the Twenty20 International (T20I) and the One-Day International (ODI) series, South Africa are riding the momentum wave ahead of the contest in white flannels. Du Plessis acknowledges the immense challenge of playing India in India but hopes the team can take confidence from their performances on the tour thus far.

"Obviously playing India in India in Test cricket is probably the hardest challenge. What has helped us is that we have done really well so far this tour. We have played really good cricket. So, we've got lot of confidence, but we understand that Test cricket is still going to be the hardest challenge. We've practised well, planned well and we are really hungry to play Test cricket. I suppose because we've been No. 1 for a period of time. You look forward to play Test cricket because there is a lot of pride that comes with it," Du Plessis said.

Du Plessis also expects the ball to start turning from the first day of the Tests, feels the matches won't last too long and that his team's best ploy would be to play attacking cricket.

"We are expecting the ball to spin on day one, you expect it and then you plan for it. In India I think it is a lot more aggressive now than it used to be in the past where the pitches probably spin on day three, four and five but they start doing that on day one now. So that means the Test matches won't last long. But for us if it lasts only three days, we will have our plans to try and be attacking, to make sure to wait for opportunity and put momentum in our favour,"Du Plessis said.