“It is going to be exciting. Indians are confident... We are also here with a lot of confidence. Playing anywhere in the sub-continent is a challenge and we are confident we can meet the challenge,” he told a press conference, hours after the team arrived in the city for the first Test beginning on Saturday.

“This is the tour we have been looking forward to. It is crucial as we have two tough series coming up against England and Australia,” Smith, who guided the Proteas to the No 1 spot in the one-day rankings, said.

Smith spoke of the controversy about the selection of his team, leading to the pull-out of fast bowler Charl Langeveldt, picked ahead of Andre Nel because of his colour.

“It is a bit disappointing. We feel for the players and have spoken to them. It affects the team certainly. But we are a mature family and our job is to continue with cricket.”

On playing the first Test here without any tour matches, the world’s top one-day batsman said: “We have been busy playing cricket throughout the year. We have enough strength in our composition to meet the challenge.

The next three days are going to be crucial.”

Spin-friendly

To a question about the Chepauk pitch being traditionally spinner-friendly, Smith said, “When you come to the sub-continent, you expect the spinners to take wickets. We have prepared the whole year. Our bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets.”

Acknowledging the strength of the Indian batting line-up, the South African skipper said, “India have a very talented batting line-up. The top six batters are in good form. They have scored millions of runs between them.

We respect them, but we have got to go and beat them.”

Smith also indicated that the series would not be marred by sledging. “We hope that the series will be played in good spirit. If we win the sledging battle and don’t win the cricket battle, nobody is going to remember us.”

To a question about the impact of compatriots Gary Kirsten and Paddy Upton (mental conditioning coach) in the Indian camp, visiting coach Mickey Arthur said any international coach had to know about top rival players.