India tames South Africa, eying for a whitewash
The ongoing Test series between India vs. South Africa is looking like as if a tiger is pouncing on a helpless gazelle. It seems all the doors of rescue have been closed for the visitors. India tamed South Africa in both the Test matches, dominating the series from the very first ball of the game. The visiting side is clueless and seems to have forgotten the basic technique to play Test cricket. Watching such dull, one-sided matches is not entertaining.
Victory without competition
It is apparent fans want to see Indian success but not without any game. There is no confidence in the South African team; they are missing the likes of Amla, Steyn, and de Villers. Competitiveness is the name of sports. No one can sustain the crowd’s interest in such boring matches.
Weak opponent
Vizag as well as Pune, both the Test matches proved to be a one-sided affair; the visitors surrendered without firing from bat or ball. Team India is not only dictating the series; rather, they are bossing every moment in both Tests. Technically, South Africa lacks technique, fighting attitude, skill to sustain in Test cricket. Therefore, the host conquered the visitors by an innings and 137 runs in the second Test at Pune and have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Sunday.
One-sided series
Both the Tests were one-sided. World no-1 Test side outclassed the Proteas in all the departments of the game. The struggling South African team surrendered without any resistance. Team India asserted its supremacy at home.
India on top in WTC
Pune Test ended on the fourth day. The comprehensive victory has consolidated India’ s position in the World Test Championship (WTC) point table. The host nation has accumulated 200 points and maintained a 100 percent record. Earlier, India crushed the Caribbean in the two test series and gathered maximum 120 points.
11th consecutive series win
Team India created a history by winning 11th successive Test series at home. This Test was a special match for captain Virat Kohli. As he was playing his 50th Test as a Test captain while scoring a mammoth 254 runs and setting the platform for a huge total in the first innings. At present, teams generally don’t force follow-on; despite this, Kohli showed confidence in his energetic/super-fit bowlers and made South Africa bat again. Indian bowlers wrapped the Test just after the tea break on the fourth day, dismissing the visitors on 189 runs.
South Africa lacks application
All the bowlers bowled with heart and chipped wickets. Come-back man Umesh Yadav claimed 3 for 22. The rest of the lot – Jadeja, Shami, Ashwin, and Ishant had wickets in their kitty as well. However, tail-enders, to a certain extent, resisted and delayed India’s victory. Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj added 56 runs in the second innings. Overall South African batsmen were clueless to cope-up with the Indian bowlers.
Astounding Saha
Wriddhiman Saha’s superb keeping skills silenced his critics. Behind the stump, he is far superior to Rishabh Pant and others. Acrobatic Saha took some superb catches, which stunned everyone. He proved everyone why he is so highly rated with gloves in world cricket.
Umesh, a fine comeback
The remarkable comeback of Umesh Yadav was another highpoint of the Pune Test. He demolished the Visitors batting line-up in both the innings and bagged six wickets in total. Bowling after remaining out of the team for an extended period is a daunting task. He left everything behind, bowled with a purpose, and in the end, succeeded in his goal. This also demonstrates the strong bench strength of team India.
Biggest victory
Incidentally, this was the biggest win of India against South Africa, surpassing the previous win by an innings and 57 runs at the Eden Garden in Kolkata way back in 2010.
Kohli in the record book
Virat Kohli’s 50th Test as India captain was a landmark in his high-profile career. The victory over Proteas placed Kohli in the coveted list of most successful captains in Test cricket history. Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting of Australia are ahead of Kohli. India has won 60% Test under the captaincy of Kohli with 30 wins, 10-Test lost, and drawn 10 games.
Waugh, Ponting ahead of Kohli
Steve Waugh led Australia in 57-Test matches, lead them to victory in 41, lost just 9, and 7 games ended without any result. The overall winning percentage was superb at 71.92%.
Ricky Ponting captained in 77 Tests. Under his captaincy, Australia won 48-Test, lost 16 games, and 13 were drawn, the victory percentage was 62.33%
Players of yesteryear and others have congratulated India after their tremendous performance in the second Test match at Pune.
Shower of congratulations
Former batsman Virender Sehwag was one of the first to congratulate Virat Kohli & Co. He tweeted: “Congratulations Team India on a world record 11th consecutive Test series win. Great all-round performance and 200 points now in the World Test Championship, great beginning.”
Congratulating the team, Harbhajan Singh tweeted: “Well done team India for winning the 2nd test and series.”
Eyes on whitewash
As expected before the series, India has been dominating this series. This South African side has nothing in their armoury to compete against a team like India. The host is aiming to whitewash the Proteas, which is very much on the cards.
