South Africa vs India 2018, 1st Test: What went wrong for the visitors

One of the most anticipated series of 2018 started on a bright note as South Africa and India produced an exciting first Test. It was a low-scoring game, but both teams fancied their chances throughout the game.

South Africa were reduced to 12/3 but a counter-attack from AB de Villiers changed the course of the first innings to help South Africa post 286. But Indian batsmen (the top order in particular) couldn’t stand up and India couldn’t capitalize with the bat and were 7 down below 100 runs in the first innings.

But with a target of 208 to get in the fourth innings after the bowlers managed to pull India back in the game, the visitors were in with a definite chance. But again, the top-order failed and India were bowled out for 135 and lost by 72 runs.

It was Vernon Philander, who took three wickets in the first innings and ran through the Indian middle order in the second, to bowl the Proteas to a victory and help them go 1-0 up in the 3-match series.

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#5 Team selection

Dhawan failed in both innings.

When Virat Kohli announced the team at the toss, there were three major surprises. First of them was Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion. He was selected ahead of experienced pacers Ishant Sharma (who was the favourite for the third seamer’s spot) and Umesh Yadav.

The second surprise was the exclusion of Ajinkya Rahane, who has been India’s best batsman away from home in the last 3-4 years. There was a lot of talk about his current form (he scored only 17 runs in his last 5 innings), but he has been one of India’s most reliable batsmen outside Asia. The fact that he averages 53.44 away from home justifies that he loves the challenge of playing overseas. His exclusion was a bizarre one and the skipper and the team management received a lot of flak for this decision.

The third one was the least surprising one. India went in with Shikhar Dhawan ahead of KL Rahul (who scored 7 successive fifties in 2017) as the second opener. Dhawan has been in decent touch, but he has struggled to perform overseas. Also, he has struggled against the moving ball in the past. Hence, on a green pitch, the ball was going to deviate from the surface and Rahul is more suited to play the moving ball.

#4 Shami and Bumrah couldn’t capitalize on the good start on Day 1

Bumrah disappointed on the first day.

South Africa won the toss and surprised a few by electing to bat first on a spicy pitch which had a greenish look. Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India an excellent start as he rattled the Proteas with three quick wickets at the start.

However, the much-hyped Indian seam bowling attack, which consisted Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah (who was a surprise selection), couldn’t quite back up the excellent spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Both of them were disappointing as they gave freebies (boundary balls) almost every over. Both Bumrah and Shami couldn’t keep up the early pressure created by Bhuvneshwar.

Shami, in particular, lacked intensity. He just didn’t steam in as he usually does. He didn’t complement Bhuvneshwar well with the new ball and looked completely out of rhythm. This also resulted in Kohli not giving him the new ball in the second innings. Hence, it allowed South Africa to get away from 12/3 and reach 107/3 at Lunch as AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis batted well and also feasted on some loose bowling.

#3 Poor catching and failure to clean up the lower-order

Keshav Maharaj scored a handy 35 which helped the Proteas reach an above par first innings score.

One of the factors that were going to be crucial was how the teams caught their catches, especially in the slips. It might look like India dropped only two catches in the entire Test match, they were dropped at crucial junctures of the game.

Even after the counter-attack from AB de Villiers, De Kock continued to attack as South Africa scored more than 4 runs per over. However, the hosts were reduced to 202/6. And with Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling really well, it looked like South Africa would’ve folded up quickly. But Dhawan dropped an easy catch at third slip and Keshav Maharaj (batting on 0) was handed a reprieve.

The left-arm spinner went onto to make 35 and formed crucial partnerships for the 8th wicket (with Rabada) to frustrate India. Even after Maharaj’s dismissal, India toiled hard (for about 11 overs) to get the final two wickets.

Thus, South Africa’s lower order contribution was very crucial in the first innings.

#2 Failure to capitalize on key moments throughout the game

AB de Villiers batted beautifully in both innings.

Never throughout the game, India felt that they were completely out of the game. They were always in with a chance.

South African batting coach Dale Benkenstein after the first day revealed that he almost took an Uber and headed towards the team hotel after his team slipped to 12/3 inside the first half hour on the first day. That’s how bad South Africa’s position was and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with those three wickets had given India a dream start.

However, India failed to build on to the excellent start as AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis steadied the ship and counter-attacked to bring the hosts back in the game. But after lunch, India came back strongly to remove both the batsmen and the hosts were sitting at 142/5. Once again the pressure was let off as Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander stitched a quick-fire 60-run stand before the lower-order frustrated India and took the first innings score to 286.

India were then reduced to 92/7 before Hardik Pandya resurrected the innings. But India, decently placed at 191/7, lost their last three wickets for just 18 runs (in contrast to South Africa’s last three who scored 65 for their last 3 wickets) to fold up for 209 conceding a 77-run lead.

India’s bowlers got them back with a wonderful display in the second innings as they skittled the Proteas out for 130 and they needed 208 to win the Test. They also started well as they reached 30/0 before they lost quick wickets and slipped to 39/3. But Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma calmed the nerves with a solid partnership (and took the team to 71/3).

Virat Kohli, in particular, was looking in very good touch. But his wicket triggered a collapse as India slipped to 82/7 and were eventually bowled out for 135.

#1 Batsmen couldn’t adjust to South African conditions

Pandya was the only Indian batsman to score a half-century.

One of the main challenges for the Indian batsmen was going to be countering the extra bounce and lateral movement. India also cancelled the practice match and hence it was up to the Indian batsmen to make the adjustment.

But they weren’t up to the mark. They failed to adjust to the conditions and hence the top order didn’t make any impact. The one thing India would’ve been disappointed will be their shot selection.

They had a green pitch on the offer, the ball was moving around and against a world-class bowling attack which comprised Philander, Steyn, Morkel and Rabada, it was going to be tough. But most of the batsmen fell to poor shots in both innings.

In the first innings, Vijay, Pujara and Kohli chased wide deliveries and were caught behind the wicket. Dhawan looked to attack with 15-20 minutes to go for stumps. Rohit and Saha were given LBW as they couldn’t read the in-dippers. If it was not for Pandya's 93, India would've been all out for less than 150 and would have conceded a bigger lead.

In the second innings, Dhawan was bounced out, Vijay once again fished outside the off-stump. Pujara and Kohli got out to pretty good deliveries, then Rohit, Pandya and Saha fell to poor shots and they were eventually bundled out for 135.

India’s inability to play and adjust to the moving ball really cost them dear and were in trouble in both innings as the top order failed to put up anything substantial.