It's nearly two years that India haven't played a Test overseas and as they prepare to take on South Africa at the Wanderers on Wednesday, it will be a trial by fire for coach Duncan Fletcher, who has now come a long way from the team's 0-8 result abroad.
The last Test India played on foreign soil was in January 2012, against Australia at Sydney. It was the last game in a long run of defeats away from home (England followed by Australia).
There are not many coaches in world cricket who would survive an 0-8 blanking in overseas conditions but Fletcher did somehow. And now, it is easy to see why the team stands up for him. He is a father figure to these youngsters in the absence of senior, highly experienced players.
"Communication is very easy at the moment with youngsters in the side. Fletcher is obviously a go-to man. I can always go and speak to him about what he feels about my batting or whatever problems I am facing," said Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of his team's practice sessions in Benoni.
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