Markram hopes SA can work past the "baggage" from 2015

"I remember watching that series a few years ago and it looked incredibly difficult" - Markram © Getty

Aiden Markram was only 20 years old when South Africa last toured India but he remembers how difficult the Test series was. And how certain players must still carry a "bit of baggage".

On their tour of India in 2015, South Africa didn't just lose the Test series 3-0, drawing only the Bengaluru Test which didn't see play for four days, but also lost an overseas series for the first time since 2006. They were also bowled out for 79 in Nagpur, still the lowest Test total by a team against India.

The series defeat came on the back of fantastic victories in the T20I and ODI series over India, in a way pushing India into producing retaliatory turn-tops. The pitch at Nagpur was even rated poor by the ICC.

"I remember watching that series a few years ago and it looked incredibly difficult. And I'm sure there's a bit of baggage that certain players that were on that tour might still be carrying but that's completely fine," Markram said ahead of their three-day practice match in Vijayanagaram. "I think it's never an easy tour coming to anywhere in the subcontinent, let alone India. It's full of challenges, but if we can conquer those challenges it will be really rewarding.

"The guys are positive and upbeat and we're maintaining a really good language in the changeroom, a really strong language. At the end of the day, we're not gonna harp on about conditions, we pretty much know what to expect and we just need to get the job done."

Markram is fresh from scoring 161 against India A in the second unofficial Test in Mysore, and said that he feels ready for the Test series after spending quality time in the middle.

"From a personal perspective, it was nice to spend time out in the middle," Markram said. "I think the wickets we get will be a lot different to the wickets we got in the "A" series, but like I said, it's nice to spend time out there. And in the field as well, it was nice for us as fielders to be on our feet for long periods of time and for our bowlers to bowl plenty of spells in these hot conditions. I took a lot from the "A" side games and I'm ready to go in the Test matches. It's always nice to be back in the Proteas environment.

"It's nice to be back in the camp. There's a lot of new faces and it's exciting times with the change of staff and quite a few new players as well," he continued. "There's lots of new and refreshing energy in the camp and the guys look to be in good spirits so we're looking forward to the series."

The first of the three Tests start on October 2 in Visakhapatnam.