'Time for me and other younger guys to play with more responsibility' – Aiden Markram

Faf du Plessis' team will play a three-Test series in India, beginning in the first week of October. While their white-ball stars are currently involved in a Twenty20 International series, Markram led a South Africa A side in two four-day games against India A.

South Africa lost the first one by seven wickets in Thiruvananthapuram but fought back in the second to secure a draw, courtesy hundreds from Markram (161) and Wiaan Mulder (131*) in Mysore.

Against a quality bowling attack that featured ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and pacemen Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav, Markram top-scored for South Africa with his 253-ball effort. The skipper was delighted with his performance, but acknowledged that he isn't expecting batting-friendly pitches in the senior team's Test series.

"It was nice to spend time at the crease," Markram told The Hindu. "Being successful comes down to having self-confidence, which you gain from playing good knocks like this one. But I’m under no illusions that the pitches for the Tests will be as batting-friendly as this one."

South Africa will be without the services of retired stalwarts Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers for the India Tests. In their absence, Markram said that it is imperative that the youngsters step up and take the responsibility.

"It’s time for me and other younger guys to play with more responsibility and start winning games for South Africa," he said. "We cannot continue to play the fearless and expressive cricket that we did before."

The first Test will start on 2 October in Visakhapatnam, while the second and third will be played in Pune and Ranchi later that month.