India vs South Africa 2018, 2nd Test: The legend of Ngidi grows and other takeaways 

The conclusion of the second Test between India and South Africa can be effectively summed up as an anticlimax, far from being the close contest it was until the final day. The collapse of the Indian batting order was unanticipated, given the fact that it comprised seasoned batsmen like Pujara, Kohli and Vijay among others.

Further, the fact that the pitch was distinctly 'Indian' in its make-up meant that India would have fancied their chances. However, it was the South African bowling attack which kept chipping away at the lapses in approach of the Indian batsmen with their four-pronged pace attack, ensuring that South Africa remain an impenetrable fortress for the Indians.

Bodyline tactics

The second Test match between India and South Africa had more pertinence for it forced the cricket fan to hark back to the potency of bodyline bowling, outlawed since it was first employed by the Englishmen to counter the stature of Don Bradman.

In the modern game, the tactic has been phased out and its potentially fatal nature nullified with the introduction of protective equipment, and the number of bouncers allowed in a single over of a Test match being curbed to just two. Nevertheless, the South African pace quartet comprising Ngidi, Morkel, Philander and Rabada made optimum use of the bodyline tactic and reaped the laurels which they owe, in no small part, to the archetypal Indian track.

Like Playing in India

2nd Sunfoil Test: South Africa v India, Day 2

“It was 100% like bowling in India,” said Morne Morkel. The match was played on an evidently batting friendly track. Although, after having undergone a certain amount of wear and tear owing to four days of unimpeded play, there was a sharp variation in the bounce which left India reeling under the transformed conditions in their second innings.

While Virat Kohli played across an Ngidi delivery which kept low, swung in and hit his pads, a few overs later, Parthiv Patel had to bear the brunt of a rising Ngidi delivery. Patel jumped up to fend off the same but to no avail, for Ngidi’s express pace meant that the ball had already struck his ribs, leaving him out of breath and out of sorts.

Pujara's Brain Fade

Pujara was run-out in the second innings as well

The dictum of taking the attack to the opposition had been advocated by Kohli after the sorry conclusion of the first Test for Team India. Pujara might have been attempting to replicate the same but his dismissal on the fifth day can at best be attributed to a moment of acute brain fade, leaving many to wonder if him just taking the crease and fending off everything as he has done so often would have been a better bet.

Sunil Gavaskar, while commentating on the recently concluded Test series between India and Sri Lanka, had compared Pujara’s running to “a car that runs with a handbrake on.” Unfortunately for Pujara, his brace of run-outs in the second Test match versus South Africa will only testify to the same.

South Africa's Fielding Complementing their Bowling

2nd Sunfoil Test: South Africa v India, Day 5

South Africa made it a point to amp up their on-field display to complement their bowlers. The bodyline tactics employed by the bowlers meant that the Indian second innings was peppered with pulls and hooks.

Thus, catches were there for the taking and the South African fielders didn’t disappoint. First up was the dismissal of Parthiv Patel who pulled at a delivery by Kagiso Rabada and could only gather a top edge which meant that Morne Morkel, aided by his tall frame, pulled off an amazing catch at fine-leg.

However, it was the dismissal of Rohit Sharma which could be summed up as the nail in the coffin of the Indian effort, for Sharma was looking good throughout his knock of 47 and might have made it a tougher match for South Africa to win.

Stationed at fine-leg, it was AB de Villiers who lunged ahead to pouch the ball after Sharma failed to control his hook shot. De Villiers pocketed the same while Rabada went on a celebration spree, again!

The Legend of Ngidi Grows

2nd Sunfoil Test: South Africa v India, Day 5

And to top it all off, the legend of Ngidi grows! Coming into his debut match, Ngidi’s stature had been propped up on the back of several myths lauding his pace and his uncanny ability to gather seemingly unattainable bounce off the pitch. Ngidi returned with figures of 6-39 and his Man of the Match effort was the principal reason for India’s undoing.