Dubai: So, Virat Kohli’s men have failed to buck the trend, quite expectedly, that of never winning a Test series in South Africa.
They collapsed at 151 all out in chasing a stiff target of 287 on a wicket of variable bounce in the second Test, ensuring an unbeatable 2-0 lead for the hosts in a three-Test series.
The knives will be out again, with phrases like ‘paper tigers,’ ‘tigers at home’ thrown at them in random.
A closer look at the series so far reveals it was an absolute lack of planning and faulty team selection which prevented the Indian team from at least putting their best foot forward.
This is the same Indian team which prided themselves as the ‘Invincibles’ with a record of winning nine series on the trot against mediocre opponents, that too mostly at home.
It was around November last year when Kohli had bemoaned the lack of adequate preparation time for a demanding series like this one, with the team scheduled to leave for South Africa barely four days after a pointless limited overs gig against the Sri Lankans.
The issue was never really addressed by the Indian cricket board, which could have flown the batsmen who are Test specialists but not engaged in the Lankan series over to South Africa for some acclamitisation on the wickets with extra pace and bounce.
A somewhat complacent Kohli then shrugged off the query about the lack of playing at least one two-day practice match on reaching there.
To him, and obviously the brains trust of Ravi Shastri and batting coach Sanjay Bangar, the twice-a-day net sessions would have been preparation enough to take on Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and the likes.
As things turned out, it was not enough as the top order was repeatedly found wanting except Kohli.
Any plus from the series so far?
It’s got to be the captain’s counter-attacking 153 in the first innings at Supersport Park and the efforts of the fast bowlers.
That, however, will be hardly of consequence for the Indian fans in the ultimate analysis.
