“South Africa are no pushovers. When they came to India last time for the two-Test series, it was tough to beat them. After drawing the Kanpur Test, we won in Kolkata through Harbhajan Singh’s excellent performance (7/87) with the ball,” he told a press conference upon arriving for the first Test starting on March 26.

However, he said the Indian team, with home advantage and experience, could win the series.

“It is going to be a tough challenge this time around. They have great players in their ranks. This time of the year is going to be hot. We have the experience and also the quality. I am sure we will be able to win the series,” he said.

“We have had a good series in Australia. South Africa have done well aga-inst Pakistan and Ban-gladesh. We have the advantage of playing at home, where we have a fantastic record. We will be able to well in this series too.”

Kumble will be felicitated by the BCCI just before the match for taking 600 Test wickets. “I have always done well here in Chennai. It is really a good cricketing wicket. Chepauk has a rec-ord in producing good Test match results for us. We have had some fantastic Te-sts here. I am sure the coming one will be good and good cricket is in store for the knowledgeable fans.”

About heavy rains lashing the city for the past two days, Kumble said, “It is not in our control. We only hope we can play on all five days so that we can provide interesting cricket.”

On whether he would opt for regular openers or promote Rahul Dravid, Kumble said categorically, “Dravid will bat at number three.”

‘Media creation’

Kumble accused the media of creating the ‘senior-junior’ controversy and said the team was committed to working for success in both forms of the game.

“I think senior-junior (controversy) is not with team members... It is the media that has made it out to be so. I don’t know why they talk of cricket players like this,” he said.