It was a forgettable performance for the Indian cricket team in their last international match of 2023. Against South Africa, India were expected to put up a great show in what has been dubbed the team's 'Final Frontier'. However, what resulted on the spot can be called a listless show. After India's first innings ended on 245, South Africa posted a total of 408 runs, courtesy of Dean Elgar's 185. In the second innings, Virat Kohli (76) put up a lonely battle as the Indians were all bowled out for just 131. India lost the first innings. match with an innings and 32 runs.
Only Kohli and Shubman Gill (26) reached double figures in the second innings. Four Indian batters could not even score. Indian great Sachin Tendulkar took to social media to express his views on the show.
“Well played South Africa! Although I initially felt that the South African team would have been unhappy after the first innings, their pace attack exceeded expectations and showed remarkable skill in the second innings, despite the pitch being more favorable became for batting as the second innings match progressed,” Sachin Tendulkar wrote in a lengthy post on X.
“From what I saw, India's batting selection left a lot to be desired. Throughout the Test, only a few batters, namely Elgar, Jansen, Bedingham, @imVkohli and @klrahul, looked truly comfortable with the bat, reading through the conditions with technique and technique. balance. #SAvIND”
Well played South Africa!
Although I initially felt that the South African team would have been unhappy after the first innings, their pace attack exceeded expectations and showed remarkable skill in the second innings, despite the pitch becoming more favorable for batting as the.. .
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 28, 2023
South Africa took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series and India's dreams of winning a Test series in Rainbow Nation for the first time in 31 years were in tatters.
The only redemption now could be a 1-1 draw if they manage to square the series in the New Year Test in Cape Town.
The Indian team put up a sloppy batting show, which indicated their ignorance and remarkable lack of preparation for a difficult assignment like this.
It's been a terrible last six to seven weeks for captain Rohit Sharma, who lost the World Cup final, was stripped of the Mumbai Indians captaincy two weeks ago and has now looked less than a leader, making him an instant favorite during the World Cup.
The team also looked a bit like its skipper, sloppy and without a plan B for course correction.
As Bob Marley's iconic 'Don't worry, everything's going well' blared from the loudspeakers, the Indian team was left wondering how nothing could have gone right throughout the match.
With PTI inputs
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