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

[OverratedSanity]

AB did not get a hundred and later when people (who have not watched this match) check the scores, they won't see anything special about this match and the ridiculous notion 'AB is overrated test batsman' will continue. Guy has looked a class above any other batsman in this match across both sides

Overrated doesn't mean "not amazing", it just means overrated.

 

[StephenZA]

Yeah this is setting up to be a cracking match. Still slightly in SA's favour but not by much. How screwed would we be without AB?

Only reason we can play 6 batsmen... anybody else and we would have played 7. His first innings also changed the match at that stage.

 

[harsh.ag]

Hope they get that the only way this chase is gonna succeed is if everyone goes after the bowling. And I mean full on! Well, maybe not Che. But everyone else.

 

[Shri]

If we lose this now, everyone will **** on Kohli for dropping jinx.

 

[OverratedSanity]

If we lose this now, everyone will **** on Kohli for dropping jinx.

Depends on what Rohit does

 

[Victor Ian]

This match > all five Ashes tests.

As far as the excitement factor goes anyway.

Unfortunately, you're right.

I never thought Indian pacers could do this kind of thing. Great effort. While it's unlikely panda does it again is it equally unlikely india's main batsmen fail again?

 

[StephenZA]

If SA lose this its all Elgars... fault. (Or Maybe Faf's for batting first) (Or Steyns for getting injured) (Or Gibson for not playing 7 bats)

 

[vcs]

Feels like SA could definitely use that extra batsman.. in these conditions their 4 best bowlers are more than good enough to get the job done.

 

[Bahseph]

Other than Amla I don't think I'd place much blame on the batsman. Just utterly terrific bowling and the pitch has a lot more going for it than it did on day 2. If India chase this down they absolutely deserve the win. Think Pujara is going to really be the kingpin.

 

[cnerd123]

I love Bumrah and Pandya making the doubters taste it, but I don't think I could tolerate if Nohit did it.

I hope we win with Ashwin scoring an unbeaten 50 from number six tbh

 

[Black_Warrior]

Overrated doesn't mean "not amazing", it just means overrated.

Overrated means not as amazing.

 

[cnerd123]

If SA lose this its all Elgars... fault. (Or Maybe Faf's for batting first) (Or Steyns for getting injured) (Or Gibson for not playing 7 bats)

you forgot to blame the quota system somehow

 

[jimmy101]

If SA lose this its all Elgars... fault. (Or Maybe Faf's for batting first) (Or Steyns for getting injured) (Or Gibson for not playing 7 bats)

Easy Stephen, RSA still have a pretty good chance of winning!

 

[Shri]

Will be a shame if SA prepare flat tracks from here on and back their pacers to do better than ours. Pitches like this and Dharamshala make test cricket so much better.

 

[Bahseph]

If SA lose this its all Elgars... fault. (Or Maybe Faf's for batting first) (Or Steyns for getting injured) (Or Gibson for not playing 7 bats)

Hasn't been the perfect test for us. But it's been so enjoyable

 

[Motorwada]

Unfortunately, you're right.

I never thought Indian pacers could do this kind of thing. Great effort. While it's unlikely panda does it again is it equally unlikely india's main batsmen fail again?

Naah. This batch is the best ever prolly and will prolly be in an Indian all time XI by the time their careers end (along with Kapil). Bhuvi averages 26-27 and Shami is just over 30. Bumrah also averages 22 in ODIs (prolly only Indian bowler ever to average less than 25 in ODIs). These 3 have the potential to average late 20s in test cricket.

 

[StephenZA]

Feels like SA could definitely use that extra batsman.. in these conditions their 4 best bowlers are more than good enough to get the job done.

Nah... we played our best team. As I mentioned earlier, without ABdV then we play 7 bats.

What does concern me is that they have created a very sporting wicket, which gives low scoring games, and brings the lower quality bowlers into the match. Not sure if that is the best strategy. Will say after the Indian innings. It really does not do me heart any good.

 

[Black_Warrior]

you forgot to blame the quota system somehow

This side was not picked based on a quota. South Africa's batting is always susceptible to a collapse. Have said this before. All the tests they have lost against SC teams since 2000 have been batting collapses.

 

[Top Cat]

This is why winning in Australia is much harder than South Africa or England. The pitches in Australia are flat as a pancake and need 140+ kph bowlers that only South Africa and Australia have (bowlers who can do that on a regular basis without sacrificing line and length). The reason India did well in the early/mid 2000s in Australia is that we had Sachin/Dravid/VVS who used to eat up the Aussie bowlers on flat tracks such that our bowlers had 500 runs to defend and even then we lost most matches winning only the odd one (Adelaide, Perth) although we were generally quite competitive.

 

[TT Boy]

Will be a shame if SA prepare flat tracks from here on and back their pacers to do better than ours. Pitches like this and Dharamshala make test cricket so much better.

Think they are just going to be quicker, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the games on the Highveld was done and dusted in three days. Australia will get flatter wickets.