South Africa have not won a test in India since 2010, but did have a famous victory at Eden Gardens by 329 runs in 1996.
Overall, they have won five of their 19 tests in India with three draws, certainly not the worst record of a touring team, but they have lost their last five in a row, all heavy defeats.
Maharaj speaks about what to expect from the wickets, staying focussed on tour and his own India heritage.
The wickets in India and what to expect
"I don't think it will be as spin-friendly as we experienced in Pakistan. I think we’ll get good wickets that will deteriorate as the game goes on, probably more of your traditional Test wickets from what we’ve seen so far.
"If you watched the West Indies series that India played recently, those were good wickets that went into days four and five. I believe the narrative is changing, you’re seeing more balanced wickets that deteriorate naturally over time.
"India are a wonderful team and, with their new transition, I think they’ll look to produce good cricket wickets rather than extreme turners, just judging from recent years."
How the team has settled in India
"Yeah, we’re fortunate to be able to get out of the hotel. We only got here two days ago, so we haven’t really ventured out yet. There’s been a lot of media work, camera sessions, and training.
"But I’m sure when the guys get an opportunity, they’ll definitely venture out, maybe to a coffee shop in the morning or something like that, just to get a bit of a breather."
How the team is approaching this tour
"I think there’s a real hunger and desire within the camp to beat India. It’s probably one of the toughest tours, if not the toughest, in the Proteas’ calendar, across generations. Some players in the past have been fortunate enough to cross that hurdle, and as a unit we see it as one of our biggest tests.
"It’s also a wonderful opportunity to gauge ourselves and see how far we’ve come. Slowly but surely we’ve started to conquer conditions across the subcontinent, and this is one assignment we really want to take head-on.
"The guys are focused on doing the basics well, maintaining our intensity, and carrying momentum from Pakistan, where we showed that we’ll fight regardless of the situation. Partnerships, whether batting or bowling, have been key for us. And it’s great to see different players putting their hands up when needed. That shared responsibility is very encouraging."
Having runs on the board
"Wickets and runs are two crucial elements towards a team’s victory. As a spinner, if you’re bowling in the fourth innings to win a Test match, you obviously want that cushion of runs.
"Our batting lineup has come a long way. The hundreds are shared among the group, which is great, at any given time someone stands up and takes responsibility. In the subcontinent, a score of 60 can sometimes feel like 150 elsewhere. Our batters have really embraced that mindset and it’s showing in the results."
Insights from South Africa’s recent ‘A’ tour of India from Temba Bavuma
"Obviously he’s given us insights, mainly not to look too much into conditions from that tour, because it’s not entirely realistic to what we’ll get here in Kolkata. But there’s a lot of positives to take, especially in terms of plans against certain bowlers and how to counter specific attacks. The way some of our batters played there also gives us valuable intel to build on."
Keeping busy on tour
"Look, it’s more about getting out of your room and breaking the monotony. Coffee is a big culture among our team. Everyone meets up, chats, and it’s a good change of scenery.
"There’s always cricket talk happening, which is great, and it’s nice that the younger players and senior guys are all part of that. Even in Pakistan we made time to go out to restaurants and have dinners together. It builds team spirit and keeps the energy positive."
Playing in India with his family heritage
"India is always special, it’s the land of my forefathers, so it feels nostalgic returning here. From a cricketing point of view, it’s an amazing culture to be part of.
"Eden Gardens is one of the three bucket-list venues for any cricketer, along with Lord’s and the MCG. The fans here are on a different level, and it’s a privilege to play in a place with so much history and ethos. I’m really looking forward to it, especially doing it in the land of my forefathers."
