SOMSHUVRA LAHA
CENTURION: There must be something wrong with Cheteshwar Pujara’s approach, being run out twice in a match. There must be something wrong with a team’s thinking when they go with Rohit Sharma’s form at home ahead of the proven Ajinkya Rahane and opt out of the only warmup match. This result, though dreaded, isn’t surprising after all.
So, in a repeat of the previous tours, another India team has flattered to deceive in South Africa. This India team arrived making a lot of noise about its ability to end the wait. Winning nine consecutive series only added to the hype but South Africa is where the bubble has finally burst after a 135-run hammering at the Centurion.
Kohli perhaps would have been fine if this had been a close defeat. But the stunning capitulation of the batting, leaving him as the only one trying to force a favourable result doesn’t make for a great report card. With a masterful first-innings 153, Kohli the batsman proved his mettle yet again. Kohli the captain though has made some choices that may have lost India this series even before it had started.
NO SET TEAM
And as much as Kohli would defend his chopping and changing, continuing with that attitude wouldn’t have helped here. They needn’t look far to see how a set team performs. Dale Steyn’s injury gave South Africa a pace prodigy in Lungi Ngidi, who took six wickets on debut to prick India’s pride. And it is unlikely they would change this team at the Wanderers. The same can’t be said about India.
Given the way this series has progressed, India need to be hard on themselves and try to prevent a 3-0 humiliation. Heads should roll, particularly in the batting unit. Cheteshwar Pujara’s untimely run out makes his place in the team untenable. Parthiv Patel showed heart counter-attacking, but could have tempered it to build a partnership with Rohit Sharma.
And for all the hyperboles spent on Hardik Pandya’s superlative 94 in Cape Town, he must understand this is not a T20 match where going for a ramp shot to a wide and short ball is cool. Ultimately, India suffered from a lack of partnerships and South Africa flourished from