Not saying India are going to be amazing, but way too much pessimism here. There are a couple of worrying signs, but I wouldn't go crazy. I expected two losses here.
Shot selection decisions in ODIs are very different from shot selection decisions in tests. The biggest thing to take away from these matches is what a batsman's defensive technique looked like.
Dhawan: I've feared his temperament and play of the short ball. He can't be hooking so early on in his innings during his first test tour outside the subcontinent. That's a temperament issue more than anything else. Still, when you're chasing a score, which balls to play shots off of yields a different answer than when you're just putting up a total in a test match. I understand the pressure to score is there.
Rohit: For a guy who will be batting at 5, his defensive technique has actually impressed me more than I anticipated. Yes, Steyn's spell made him look ugly. But for how good that spell was, zero nicks and zero chances was impressive. He did well vs Morkel too. I've always thought his shot selection in ODIs was poor. It has improved since he has moved up the order and taken his time, but those instincts are still there I suspect.
Kohli: King of the road needs to learn that the ball moves in South Africa, and there's extra bounce. He has a good technique but is very eager to score, in ODIs and in tests. These are foreign conditions, and he has shown it due respect early in his innings.
Rahane: He was ducking well. Unlucky, but I liked how he looked.
Dhoni: Let's not kid ourselves. He's going to be embarrassed here. I saw him walk across a few times, which is probably a good way to counter full and wide deliveries, but if he has to come in before the 25th over, he'll be embarrassed in a test match.
I don't got time for Raina and Jadeja
