- Yes, you read it right. And mind you, don’t get confused with the 50-over cricket since the second Test between India and South Africa merely lasted 642 deliveries just 42 deliveries more than the short format. The recently concluded two-Test match short series was billed as the final frontier for the Indian team which was hoping to seal the contest with a comprehensive victory. There were talks about Team India overcoming the disappointing loss in the 50-over World Cup by triumphing in South Africa. What transpired in the first Test is well known as the Proteas simply brushed aside the Indian team who appeared to be underprepared to face the challenges thrown at them. The mauling of an innings defeat was painful, to say the least.
PC: Newsvilla
- Yes, Team India’s pride was hurt. The batting and the bowling were disappointing, as also the captaincy of Rohit Sharma during crucial moments of the first Test. The lack of tactical acumen showed how jaded Rohit appeared during the first Test. His batting too was a big letdown. Except for Virat Kohli in the second innings when Team India was almost certain to lose, none of the batters or bowlers made an impact on the home side. No wonder, the Proteas won the first Test comprehensively. To square the series, Team India had to come up with a better performance and they did not disappoint even though the quality of the pitch on offer must raise definite questions. The pitch simply aided the pace bowlers who ran amok with absolute glee.
- The Test lasted only two out of a possible five days, just five out of 15 scheduled sessions. The Test at Cape Town was short, fast, and furious, much like the pitch. But at the end of the bruising encounter, India emerged on top with a handsome seven-wicket victory. The margin is deceptive. The game was tighter than the score suggests. This was a morale booster and a victory of value for Rohit after the innings loss at Centurion in the first Test. India has twice lost the final of the World Test Championship. This serendipitous triumph, the first by an Asian team at Cape Town, will keep the team in the hunt. The moot point to ponder over here is whether Team India made any substantial progress vis-à-vis the latest outing.
PC: RCB
- One of the crucial aspects of the Test win is the bowling performance of Mohammad Siraj in the first innings with a 6-wicket haul and Jasprit Bumrah’s taking similar victims enabling Team India to triumph over the South Africans. Batting was scrappy right through the match as none of the batting stalwarts, except for an exceptional hundred by Aiden Markram, could score handsome runs. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli did show glimpses of their class but failed short of scoring impactful runs. The Test belonged to the bowlers, and they admirably did the job for their respective teams. In hindsight, Team India had a great opportunity to seal the series victory if only they had performed to their potential in the first match. A lost opportunity, indeed.
