As South Africa defeated India in the third and final Test to clinch the three-match series, we bring to you glimpses of action on the field and off it
Our Bureau
Cape Town (South Africa)
India Test skipper Virat Kohli admitted that batting let the visitors down in the Test series against South Africa but did not directly comment on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s spot in the team.
South Africa on Friday defeated India in the third and final Test to clinch the three-match series 2-1 here at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday. “Batting has let us down in the last two games I would say and there is no running away. I can’t sit here and talk about what could happen in the future (about Pujara and Rahane),” said Kohli in the press conference.
Pujara scored 43 in the first innings and nine in the second essay of the final Test but Rahane failed to leave a mark in both innings as he scored nine and one in the third game.
Kohli said if any decision has to be taken on both batters’ future, then it is the duty of selectors and not the captain.
“You probably have to speak to the selectors about what they have in mind because this is not my job. As I have said before, I would say again, we have continued to back Cheteshwar and Ajinkya because of the kind of players they are and what they have done in past in Test cricket,” said Kohli.
“They played crucial knocks in the second Test against South Africa in the second innings which got us to the total we could fight for, so these are the kind of performance we recognise in the team but what the selectors have in mind and what they decide to do obviously I cannot comment on that sitting here,” he added.
India had won the first Test by 113 runs but South Africa registered wins in the second and third Test to clinch the series.
Cheteshwar Pujara walks back to the pavilion after getting out during the 3rd day of the third Test (ANI Photo) 
Ajinkya Rahane walks back to the pavilion after getting out during the 3rd day of the third Test (ANI Photo)
Ship has sailed for Rahane and Pujara, says Atul Wassan
Former India cricketer Atul Wassan expressed disappointment after South Africa defeated the Men in Blue to clinch the three-match series 2-1 here at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.
India had won the first Test by 113 runs but South Africa registered wins in the second and third Test to clinch the series. “Definitely this team is not what we have seen before. I am disappointed not shocked as these things happen in cricket but I was not expecting this kind of a fight back. It is a good sign for South African cricket because somewhat they were falling of the map. There were England, Australia and India dominating. A good South African team will work very well for Indian cricket. Having not won the series and lost the series is disheartening but lessons to be learnt,” Atul Wassan told ANI.
“I think Rahul Dravid has been where we were in the series after leading 1-0. They have done that before also but yes this is the weakest side but in hindsight you can see the way their batsmen played especially Petersen and Bavuma and Van der Dussen. So, they have played very well. It shows that they have got the potential and beating a side like India will help them do better overseas also,” he added.
Wassan further said that Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are not doing enough for the team and may not get more chances in future.
“I think the ship has sailed for Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara because they are not doing enough. An odd 40 and an odd 50 will not work for them, it is not expected. Our batsmen have lost us the series this time. They have not given bowlers enough runs to defend 20 wickets,” said Wassan.
Kohli stays away from DRS controversy
India Test skipper Virat Kohli on Friday shied away from throwing light on the controversial DRS call that had helped Protea’s skipper Dean Elgar get his LBW decision overturned in the fourth innings of the Cape Town Test here at Newlands.
Team India was visibly irked after a controversial Decision Review System call which helped Elgar on Day 3. The controversial call evoked different reactions from KL Rahul, skipper Virat Kohli, and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. After the defeat in the third Test, skipper Kohli said the visitors know what happened exactly and he is not there to justify his actions which had sparked a debate on Thursday.
“I have no comment to make. I understood what happened on the field and people on the outside don’t know exactly what goes on the field. So, me to try and justify what we did on the field and say ‘we got carried away’…. If we would have charged up and picked up three wickets there that could have been probably the moment that could change the game,” said Kohli while replying to a query from ANI.
The incident occurred in the 21st over of the innings which was bowled by Ashwin. The spinner bowled a tossed-up delivery and it drifted in, beating Elgar on the inside edge and the ball struck him right in front of the stumps, and on-field umpire Marais Erasmus raised his finger.
Team India was shocked on seeing the ball going over the stumps and the stump mic caught Kohli, Ashwin, and Rahul suggesting some tampering with the technology. Even umpire Erasmus was seen shaking his head on how the ball was missing the stumps.
Gambhir slams Kohli for stump mic reaction
Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir slammed India’s Test skipper Virat Kohli for his reaction to the controversial DRS decision during the ongoing third Test against South Africa at Cape Town on Thursday.
Former Indian opening batter added that Kohli’s reaction was “exaggerated” and “really immature”. Team India was visibly irked after a controversial Decision Review System (DRS) call helped South Africa skipper Dean Elgar get his LBW decision overturned in the ongoing fourth innings of the Cape Town Test. The incident occurred in the 21st over of the innings which was bowled by Ashwin. The spinner bowled a tossed-up delivery and it drifted in, beating Elgar on the inside edge and the ball struck him right in front of the stumps, and on-field umpire Marais Erasmus raised his finger. However, Elgar reviewed the decision and replays showed that the ball was going over the stumps, and hence the decision was overturned.
The controversial call evoked different reactions from KL Rahul, skipper Virat Kohli, and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. First, the mic caught Ashwin as saying: “You should find better ways to win Supersport (South Africa broadcaster).”
Then Virat Kohli walked towards the stump mic and said: “Focus on your team as well and not just the opposition, trying to catch people all the time.” At last, KL Rahul said: “Whole country playing against XI guys.”
After the end of the day’s play, Gambhir in conversation with Star Sports said: “This is really bad. What Kohli did, going near the stump mic and reacting in that manner, that is really immature. This is not what you expect from an international captain, from an Indian captain. Then technology isn’t in your hand. Then you have reacted in the same manner when there was a caught-behind appeal on the leg-side, neither did Dean Elgar react in that manner. During that Mayank Agarwal appeal, it looked OUT from the naked eye, but Elgar did not react in that manner,” he said.”
Gambhir added that he expects head coach Rahul Dravid to have a word with Kohli regarding his antics on Thursday.
Pant played fabulous innings: Bowling coach Mhambrey
Team India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey on Thursday hailed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s knock in the second innings of the ongoing Cape Town Test.
Pant scored an unbeaten ton as India was bundled out for 198 in the second innings, setting South Africa a target of 212. For the Proteas, Marco Jansen returned with four wickets while Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi took three each. “It was a fabulous innings, it got us back into the match. From a personal perspective, there was pressure on him, getting runs at a crucial stage for the team, that’s important. He has set the game nicely for us. Really happy with the way he played, he showed a lot of character out there because it is not an easy wicket to bat on,” said Mhambrey during a virtual press conference.
“At that stage, you wanted a partnership, Virat was there at the other end, there was a need for a partnership. We batted very well, we wanted to stitch a partnership, once Virat got out, Rishabh had to take the leading role. He batted really sensibly and he gave us an opportunity to win the Test from here,” he added.
