Batsmen from around the world have vouched the sub-continent to be the toughest place to play Test cricket in. The hot conditions, the slow pitches and the spin challenge all add up to make succeeding here a huge gauntlet. It is a similar feeling for South Africa’s opening batsman, Dean Elgar, as he prepares for his first Test series in India. The advantage for him is that he has had a taste of Test cricket in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – an experience that will stand him in good stead in his India sojourn. “The role of an opener is quite an important one, especially in the first innings,” Elgar said, talking about the challenge ahead of him. “As an opener you set the platform for the middle-order batsmen. But I don’t see it as an added pressure. “Fortunately, I have had a decent amount of success in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh recently, so I am quite comfortable playing in the sub-continent. I will approach it as any other game but yes, it is an important position in the batting line-up.” One aspect of batting the men from the west are not familiar with is facing a spinner with the new ball. That is something they can expect in India, where the pitch starts offering turn much earlier in the match. Elgar said he has that on mind and is preparing for it in the best possible manner that he can. “The three days leading up to the Test match are very important and we have to try and cover a lot of aspects of playing in the sub-continent. You have to sharpen your skills much more here, and sometimes, it is facing a spinner with the new ball, which is totally foreign to us back home,” Elgar said. “But it is something we have got to adapt. Playing in the sub-continent puts you out of your comfort zone totally, so we have to get used to the conditions as soon as possible.” Elgar said the main difference in facing a spinner with the new ball is the extra bounce and skid he generates. In that regards, India might use the services of R Ashwin, who has had a lot of success with the new ball, owing to his height and the execution of the carom ball. Elgar is aware of the Ashwin threat and is doing all he can to prepare himself mentally and technically to take on India’s ace off-spinner in the first Test. “There is no doubt that he is a very good bowler. He is probably India’s bowling spearhead right now,” the South African opener said. “Facing him will be a great challenge and something I really look forward to. You can only prepare with the best you have. Luckily we have a few off-spinners in our side and I prepare by facing them in the nets. But facing the guy in the middle and preparing for him in the nets is two different things.” While Elgar admitted facing India’s tweakers will be difficult, he hoped to cash in on the opponent’s inexperience in the pace department, with their premiere fast bowler, Ishant Sharma, out of the Mohali Test due to an ICC ban. “In India, in the first hour of the Test match the ball seems to do a bit, whether it is swing or seam. It is definitely going to play a part. It is also a great opportunity to put the Indian pacers under pressure. Their seam bowlers are a bit inexperienced and haven’t had a lot of success, especially in Test cricket. Hopefully, I and Stiaan (van Zyl) will be able to do that,” he said.