Rahul Dravid confident of Virat Kohli-led India beating South Africa in 2018
New Delhi: India U-19 and 'A' team coach Rahul Dravid has backed the Virat Kohli-led side to perform well in next year's tour to South Africa, saying that the team was in a really good form at the moment and would surely put up a great show in foreign conditions as well.
Heaping praise over the Indian cricket team, the former skipper said the current side was well-balanced, featuring a blend of young and experienced players.
"I think we are in a really good form. We are ready and we have got a really good balance. We have got very fine players and some really experienced players who are in good form at the moment. So, I think we are ready. We are ready as much as we possibly can be," Dravid said.
"I am looking forward to the next couple of months in cricket and watching the Indian team playing in South Africa and I believe that they are going to do well," he added.
When quizzed how well Kohli will helm his team in foreign conditions, Dravid said the Indian skipper led the team really well at home and that he didn't see any reason of him not performing well in overseas conditions.
"I think he has done very well so far. I don't see why he cannot do well in overseas conditions. I think the team has done really well. They seem to be gelling well as a team. They have got a lot of bases covered.
"They have got a good balance in the side. I believe that they need a bit of luck in these kinds of situations.
Hopefully, they do not suffer too many injuries or too many other issues. And if they have a little bit of luck, they will achieve success," he said about India's tour to South Africa which will be comprised of three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is to be played from January 5.
Following a series victory against Sri Lanka, Kohli has now led Team India to nine consecutive Test series victories.
However, India have a poor winning record abroad. They are yet to win a Test series in Australia and South Africa.
Meanwhile, Dravid also reflected on the India U-19 cricket team's preparations for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, which will be held in New Zealand from January 13 to February 3.
The Indian U-19 team will meet for a preparatory camp ahead of the grand tournament in Bengaluru from December 8 and December 22 and Dravid said that preparation for the tournament was going pretty well.
"They are going well. We are starting a campaign from tomorrow. We will be going to have a two-week campaign in Bangalore from tomorrow till December 22. And then we will re-assemble on December 28.
"We have a week in New Zealand before the World Cup starts. So, we have almost three weeks of cricket now with these U-19 boys, to help them and to prepare them for the World Cup. We are looking forward to it," he concluded.
Team India are the joint-most successful team in the history of U-19 World Cup with Australia having won the title thrice.
In the last edition of the tournament held in Bangladesh in 2016, India lost in the final against West Indies.
