Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said his visit to Australia for the Top-End Series earlier this year will keep him in good stead when he plays on the bouncy and pacy tracks in South Africa.
"I played on wickets that helps the fast bowlers when I went to Australia with the India 'A' team. That will help me make the necessary adjustments when I play in South Africa," said Gambhir who was included in the 16-member squad for the three Tests in December-January.
The Delhi opener is returning to the Test side after almost an year although he was part of the one-day team during the series against England early this year.
It has been a start-stop start-stop journey for the 25-year old left-hander who made his international debut in the tri-series in Dhaka in 2003.
Gambhir has so far played in 13 Tests and 16 one-dayers, averaging 36 with 684 runs and 25.56 with 409 runs in the two forms of the game respectively.
Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said while announcing the squad in New Delhi on Thursday that he never questioned Gambhir's technique.
"I never said his technique was faulty. I just said [after picking the one-day squad] that Wasim Jaffer was more suited to play on pacy tracks," Vengsarkar said.
Gambhir said he is confident about his current form.
"I scored two centuries in the Challenger Series and did well in the Duleep Trophy also. I want to carry that good form into the Test side," he said.
"Playing for India is in itself a challenge, whether it is bouncy wicket or otherwise. The challenge is to perform and I am looking forward to it."
