***Official*** India in South Africa 2017/18

[Anil]

Ultimately, whatever we do, we'll need some luck with conditions (like we got in this game, Steyn got injured), SA to play below their best (which happened, their batting didn't click today) and us to perform at absolutely optimum levels (unfortunately our batsmen let us down as well) to win a game.

That's what happens when you come into a series on a wing and a prayer with inadequate preparation.

Prepare for the conditions properly and the same players are much less likely to let the initiative slip away, like we did in this match on more than one occasion.

what are you talking about...kohli went as far as italy and finland and then back to delhi to prepare for this!

 

[oblongballs]

Regarding Pujara, his role is to score runs and not just be a nightwatchman. Aakash Chopra springs to mind.

That is very true but he could have dug in, tried to grit it out, taken some deliveries and overs out of the game. In the end, he played just 13 balls. For a top order batsman, that is painful.

 

[Warnest]

The writing was on the wall with the picking of Rohit over Rahane. Rohit averages a million at home but dont remember him ever playing a match winning knock overseas. Although it'll likely be a straight swap of Rahane for Rohit for next test, the tail still seems way too long, with Saha doing his best Wade impression and 8 down basically means all out within an over or two.

Meanwhile the Saffers making a habit out of winning without needing Steyn, with good reason... seeing Rabada coming in as second change bowler in the 1st innings was just crazy. 3-0 on the cards regardless of who comes in for Steyn.

 

[Arjun]

It's been a while since I even watched a game...

The one huge positive for India was that they took twenty wickets for under 300 in both innings- but at a cost- they need a fifth arm. Had it not been for the fifth arm, what we saw them achieve wouldn't be possible.

There were, however, outright dubious selections and omissions which may have cost them the match. Picking Rohit over Rahane was bad enough, but the pace selections were questionable too. Were both Ishant and Umesh really that unfit or out-of-form that they were benched, and both Shami and Bumrah played? Shami is terrible overseas, while Jazz was on debut and isn't particularly good in four-day games- less than four wickets an innings, no ten-fors. They lacked pace, they lacked bounce, they couldn't maintain accuracy long enough. The two giants were missed today. The game went about like a 150-200 an innings shootout, and Kohli's men were found wanting on days one and two.

 

[Kirkut]

On a serious note, how many of you guys think Rohit Sharma is cut out for test cricket? He himself does not seem to enjoy it, became impatient after Rabada reduced his run scoring options.

 

[Niall]

The writing was on the wall with the picking of Rohit over Rahane. Rohit averages a million at home but dont remember him ever playing a match winning knock overseas. A

What are the match winning knocks at home even? I don't care about bashing Sri Lanka and West Indies who are glorified minnows.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Absolutely toothless from India. A much vaunted batting line up falls apart yet again when things aren't going their way. The bowlers bowled their hearts out and set up a great winning position. If you have to lose, at least show some fight, some guts, some mettle. Plus, Ashwin might as well be dropped if he is going to bowl so few overs.

Yeah, just about sums it up. Couldn't bat out 50 overs on the fourth day; whichever way you slice it, that is terrible. Then again, it's a measure of just how unlikeable the Indian setup is that even an almost-but-not-quite loss like this doesn't hurt as much as it should.

 

[Black_Warrior]

South Africa have added Lungi in the Test squad. India should add Pant.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Does de Kock hang out with Lungi?

 

[Slifer]

Don't lose faith India, u were not crushed in this test. India did a lot better than I expected. I still give them a shot at winning the next test, even more so that Steyn is injured.

 

[Daemon]

Brutal wake up call for our batsmen.

Dhawan actually looks like scoring runs but the short ball weaknesses and flashiness outside off are just massive targets
Vijay needs to stop walking so far across
Pujara's probably just going to do what he did in England
Kohli's problems are in the head. Should probably bin the drive until he's played himself in
Rohit's initial half step is killing him. He lacks foot movement and relies on weight transfer, both terrible ways to bat in conditions like these

Definitely need Rahul and Rahane for the next game.

 

[Burner]

Bumrah selection was bad as well imo. I know he did good in the second innings but he went for 70 runs picking up one wicket in the first innings when conditions were the most favourable to bowl. Umesh or Ishant would have restricted SA to 200 imo after having them 12/3.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Bumrah selection was bad as well imo. I know he did good in the second innings but he went for 70 runs picking up one wicket in the first innings when conditions were the most favourable to bowl. Umesh or Ishant would have restricted SA to 200 imo after having them 12/3.

Umesh is a bit of a wildcard tbh. Could've sprayed it around and went at 6rpo for all we know. Feel the pitch really suited him though.

We would've lost the game even with the right selections because SA's attack was just way too good, but it's just annoying that Shastri and Kohli handicapped the team's chances before the test even began. Said it before, that SL home series did this team a lot of harm.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

This thread alone is better than all the threads (COMBINED) in that thing called 'ASHES Sub-Forum'

 

[Burgey]

Wonderful score to wake up to here in Australia. Big Vern getting it done. Great stuff.

 

[Slifer]

This thread alone is better than all the threads (COMBINED) in that thing called 'ASHES Sub-Forum'

That's because tbh the Ashes is overrated. Like stupid Ian Chappell calling the 05 series the only compelling series of 2000 (or maybe he said most compelling). That was great but so too was Oz in India in '01, Oz in RSA a few years ago etc.

 

[Gob]

This thread alone is better than all the threads (COMBINED) in that thing called 'ASHES Sub-Forum'

Except for the thread for Melbourne which i created

 

[Burgey]

Don't lose faith India, u were not crushed in this test. India did a lot better than I expected. I still give them a shot at winning the next test, even more so that Steyn is injured.

It’s the hope that kills you.

They bowled first on a green top, gave up a big first innings lead against a side missing its ATG quick and got rolled again in their second dig despite bowling superbly third innings to get back in it.

 

[Burgey]

Also, Ashwin is a good bat and fine cricketer but he can’t bat six in these conditions. You need to pick six specialist batsmen and run with three quicks and Ashwin. India’s bowling wasn’t the issue here.

I was shocked Rahul was left out, Rahane too. I know the latter has been lean but he’s better suited to facing quicks than Sharma ffs. They’ve had 10 years to work that out.

 

[Starfighter]

I've decided to change my mind.

I love Philander now.