Image Credit- PTI
This test journey through South Africa was billed as
India’s last frontier, and it remains impenetrable. Rain delays and the injury
to South Africa’s chosen captain, Temba Bavuma, prevented India from winning
the Boxing Day Test in three days, losing by an innings. To make matters worse,
India lost two WTC points for continuing to maintain a slow over rate. They
have six chances to win a Test at Newlands, where the second Test will present
an even greater challenge for them.
India’s defeat in the first Test match was sealed by a
batting collapse in the second innings, but the bowling needs urgent attention.
Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna, the change bowlers, were out of control and
gave up a total of 194 runs in 39 overs for just two wickets. For Prasidh,
should India bring in Avesh Khan or Mukesh Kumar? Is it better to bench Thakur
in favour of R Ashwin or an obvious quick? Or should they just rely on Prasidh
and Thakur to tighten up when the circumstances allow for noticeable seam
movement, particularly in the opening exchanges? In an effort to save the
series, India’s think tank will once more need to make some tough decisions.
In the cordon, David Bedingham has also had an
immediate effect with his batting and catching. Even though they are still
adjusting to the way cricket is changing, South Africa’s depth is demonstrated
by the rise of both Bedingham and Burger. At the beginning of the New Year,
South Africa cricket is more focused on the SA20 competition than on Test
cricket. Top cricketers from South Africa will be competing in the nation’s
franchise championship, while a significantly weakened team, captained by an
uncapped player, will play their next Test series in New Zealand. For now,
though, South Africa’s priorities will be to defeat India 2-0 and provide Elgar
with the ideal farewell.
Most likely, it was inscribed in the stars. In his
last Test match at Centurion, his hometown, Dean Elgar was named Player of the
Match. Elgar: South Africa’s captain for his last Test match overall, in Cape
Town. Elgar’s body of work at home is impressive; in 81 Test innings, he
averages 48.09. Among batters who have played at least 50 Test innings in South
Africa, only Herchelle Gibbs (49.50) and Jacques Kallis (64.65) have higher
home averages than Elgar. Following his century at SuperSport Park, Elgar made
no secret of his wish to end his career on a high note.
Although Shreyas Iyer has faced challenges from the
short ball in the past, in Centurion, he was defeated by the full ball in both
innings. He could have been a little bit late to press forward against the
fuller balls since he was anticipating the shorter one. Iyer has solidified his
spot in the Indian ODI team, although he has only participated in 11 Test
matches thus far, with just two of those taking place in SENA nations. In Cape
Town, Kagiso Rabada and Co. will test Iyer once more.