In the end, it proved to be a comprehensive victory for the visitors. This was not entire unexpected. South Africa are not the same force they once were during the early part of this millennium. It is not easy to replace players of the quality of Smith, Amla, Kallis, de Villiers, Steyn & Morkel. India were always expected to win. What was unexpected was the fightback South Africa showed after day one. Nonetheless, India breaks down one more fortress.
Good year in test cricket for India
India started the year with a fabulous back to the wall innings from Ashwin and Vihari to draw the Sydney test. This itself was a creditable achievement because of the lack of personnel with which India played that test. They topped that effort with an extraordinary win at the Gabba. This was the first fortress that was broken. It was incredible performance by all means. A bowling attack who had not played more than 10 tests combined against the might of the Australian bowling attack. By any yardstick, this was a superb achievement.
India followed that with a stupendous bowling effort on the last day at Lords. However, the best performance of that series was reserved for The Oval. On a wicket that hardly did anything, India forced a result and broke another fortress.
Now it is the turn of South African fortress, Centurion to be broken and India did that in style. It was an excellent performance. Perhaps, South Africa lack experience but India can only play the team that they are faced with. In this case, South Africa featured their best eleven in the park. Moreover, they were playing at their home which itself must give them confidence. Considering all of the above, a fortress was really broken.
It is not all glory however
However, it was not all great for India. They found themselves at 272 for 3 at the end of day one and were only able to add another 55 runs on day 3. Rahul played an innings of high quality and was ably supported by Agarwal. The hundred partnership between these two proved to be the difference between the teams in the final analysis.
The continued failure of the middle order to post any decent score is a cause for concern. Pujara who has forgotten how to score runs, is still persisted with. Here he failed in both the innings. Recently, someone had posted in Twitter Pujara’s average since 2019. 26 against Mitchell Starc’s 30. It is clear that Pujara is not really capable of scoring runs any longer. He is past his sell by date and so is Rahane. Rahane scored a polished 48 in the first innings but was able to go onto a bigger score.
His failures are too many that a middling score of 48 must not save his spot. There are others waiting in the wings. Shreyas Iyer, Vihari, Gill and once Rohit returns, Mayank too. It is time for Indian cricket to thank both Pujara and Rahane for their services and let them go. The immediate need is for Dravid to speak to both of them and tell them in no uncertain terms that their time is up and it will be better if both of them announce their retirements right after the second test.
Ashwin too disappointed
Ashwin had blamed everyone and everything under the Sun bar himself in a recent interview with Espncricinfo for his failures outside of favourable environs. Yet, when given a chance, not only did he not last beyond a full over in the first innings, he sent down 21 fruitless overs without taking a single wicket. I am sure Ashwin will find a reason for this failure too. What is the point of a bowler whose variations even the opponent’s number 11 picks up quite easily?
Ashwin did pick up couple of wickets towards the end of the game but by then, the game was already sealed. If not Ashwin, the fast bowlers at the other end would have taken those couple of wickets.
Hopefully, Ashwin will now understand why Jadeja was preferred and not him. Kohli wanted a solid option at number 6 who can bowl to give the quicks some rest.
Ashwin must realise that this series is his best opportunity to ensure that he will be the number one choice when it comes to offshore games.
The brilliant bowlers
If not for the bowlers, India with their 1.5 batsmen would not have been able to achieve the results that they have in 2021. Bumrah, Shami, Siraj and to a lesser extent, Ishant, Umesh and Shardul were quite effective in a 5 man bowling attack. Bumrah spells at Lords, The Oval and Centurion were stuff of legend. Shami’s accuracy and making the batsmen play all the while is something teams will envy. Siraj’s wickets at The Lords will not be forgotten quickly. Gone are the days when Indians will stay up to watch their batsmen play against some of the best bowlers. Now, the Indians switch on the TV sets to watch the bowlers involved in brilliant spell after brilliant spell.
Indians must remember that the past South African sides would have made a mincemeat of this Indian team. With such a short batting lineup that includes the underperforming middle order plus a Pant whose mood swings are difficult to gauge, Indians would have been hard pressed to pull one over the previous South African teams.
Conclusion to India breaks down one more fortress
Yes it was a fabulous performance but from the bowlers, Rahul and Mayank. The faultlines within the team is running deep. The lack of contribution from the middle order is startling. It has gone on for more than 3 years. Rohit before and Rahul now alongwith the bowlers have saved the day for the team. Kohli is unable to drop either Rahane or Pujara because his own returns are less compared to them over the last 3 years. This is where Dravid will have to come into the picture. He must drop either Rahane or Pujara or both of them. He must take the decision away from Kohli.