Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
What I thought could happen when India were bashing Sri Lanka at home has happened. Ravi Shastri has admitted India’s incompetence and poor decision making, highlighting that they should have arrived to South Africa to get more practice. The fact India didn’t think of that before the series was extremely stupid, and South Africa have responded by saying “thank you very much”.
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In my opinion, India’s approach to this series, including their decision making across the first two Tests, has cost them significantly in their biggest challenge since their Australia tour in 2014/15. Namely, their selections have been baffling, leaving out Ajinkya Rahane for the entire series so far, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the 2nd Test. Also, their problems when it comes to slip catching has not been rectified.
In the 3rd and final Test, surely Rahane and Kumar need to be brought back into the side, and India’s batsmen need to stop relying on Virat Kohli away from home. In the first innings in Centurion, Kohli’s magnificent 153 saw him score 49.84% of India’s runs – had it not been for Kohli, the result would have been much uglier for India. Despite the series being over, the likes of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara need to show much more than they have, and India will be keen to keep their undefeated record in Johannesburg going.
For South Africa, victory over the number one side represents sweet revenge for their 3-0 defeat in India in 2015, and will look for a whitewash in Johannesburg. Their bowling has been irresistible – so irresistible that Dale Steyn’s absence wasn’t even felt – Lungi Ngidi slotted straight in and blew India away.
South Africa’s batting, though, still looks a little shaky, but they showed excellent fight to come back from losing two early second innings wickets, with the game really in the balance at that point. In difficult batting conditions, against an India attack asking plenty of questions, the South African batsmen showed the fight and patience that India’s batsmen, except Virat Kohli have not shown. Despite no South African batsman scoring a hundred, they’ve dug deep when required.
Key to a South Africa win:
South Africa’s bowlers have been a treat to watch. I’ve enjoyed putting my feet up after a day of work, and watching these geniuses take apart India’s batsmen with pace, movement and accuracy. Like a confused student who prepared very poorly for a University class, India have simply had no answer.
More of the same is desired from South Africa. Their batsmen have not scored huge totals, but they have not needed to, and with The Wanderers usually offering pace and bounce, India will have it tough against South Africa’s quartet of fast bowlers, who are all bowling superbly.
Special mention also to AB De Villiers, who has been a difference between the sides. He has scored runs when his side has been under pressure, and it has felt like AB De Villiers was never away from Test cricket. India will need his wicket early.
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| AB De Villiers has been superb |
Key to an India win
This series has shown how well India’s bowlers, especially their seamers, have improved in overseas conditions. They have regularly picked up early wickets and challenged the South Africa batsmen, but their batsmen, apart from Kohli, haven’t come to the party.
The biggest disappointment for me has been Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara,
who was my pick for India’s leading run scorer in this series, ran himself out twice in Centurion, and much of India’s misfortune has been as a result of his lack of influence on the series. Also, it’s time India wake up and play one of their best overseas batsmen, Ajinkya Rahane, and one of their best bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
India need to cut to the chase and show some more fight with the bat.
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| Cheteshwar Pujara has been the biggest disappointment |
Predicted teams:
For South Africa, there is no need to make any changes. However, they will want to see more from Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock. Thanks to South Africa’s middle order batting and strong bowling, their lack of runs hasn’t been felt. However, these two will have an important role to play in the middle order in the upcoming series v Australia, against a better pace bowling attack than India’s. I am also looking forward to seeing South Africa’s attack at work again after their superb performances in the opening two Tests.
South Africa XI: 1. Dean Elgar, 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Hashim Amla, 4. AB De Villiers, 5. Faf Du Plessis (c), 6. Quinton De Kock (wk), 7. Vernon Philander, 8. Keshav Maharaj, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Lungi Ngidi, 11. Morne Morkel
I sound like a broken record now, but India must play Ajinkya Rahane. Because he hasn’t played a game yet, it is difficult to expect big runs from him, which shows that India have completely wasted his talent. However, if he does manage to score well, India will feel massive regret for not picking him previously, but he must play. Also, Bhuvneshwar Kumar should play in place of Ishant Sharma, as conditions will suit him. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, in my opinion, both deserve to play. I think India will stick with Parthiv Patel, too, after another controversial selection in the 2nd Test.
India XI: 1. KL Rahul, 2. Murali Vijay, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Parthiv Patel (wk), 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Ravichandran Ashwin, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Jasprit Bumrah
Stats & Facts:
- India have never lost at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg (1 win, 3 draws)
- Virat Kohli is India’s leading run scorer this series with 191 runs. Their next two highest run scorers are Hardik Pandya (115) and Ravichandran Ashwin (90). In addition, Kohli has the best centuries/Test ratio among India captains outside Asia (one century in every 1.6 Tests).
- Since 2012, India have won just one Test out of 18 away from home against South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand.
- South Africa have won their last five straight Tests, and have won their last six Tests against Asian teams at home.
Prediction:
Faf Du Plessis has said that there will be no tinkering with the team – his team will go for the kill.
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