[ad_1]
Former India all-rounder and ex-head coach, Ravi Shastri, questioned India’s tactics on Day 2 of the 1st Test between South Africa and India in Centurion as the hosts came up with a strong reply to India’s first innings total of 245. Shastri expressed his disappointment with the calls that were taken in the second session, questioning Rohit Sharma’s usage of his bowling resources at SuperSport Park. | SA vs IND, 1st Test Score |
India batters found the going tough on the opening day as they reached stumps at 208 for 8 with KL Rahul playing the lone-warrior’s role. Kagiso Rabada’s 5-wicket haul took the wind out of India’s sails before Rahul led a spirited fightback. Rahul went on to get his hundred and helped India post a competitive total of 245.
While it was expected that the total would be challenging for the South Africa batters on a challenging SuperSport Park pitch, Dean Elgar and his men made it look easy, also capitalising on some bad bowling from the inexperienced pacers.
Dean Elgar batted like he was playing on a flat pitch as he got to his hundred, his 14th in international cricket, in a free-flowing knock. Debutant David Bedingham looked solid as he did not miss out on any lose opportunities, stitching a 100-plus partnership with his stand-in captain as South Africa nearly wiped off India’s lead early in the final session.
Speaking on air, Ravi Shastri rued Rohit Sharma’s decision to start the second session with Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur, India’s 3rd and 4th-choice players. Shastri highlighted India missed a trick by not going to their experienced pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, and put pressure on Elgar and Tony de Zorzi, who resumed from 49 for 1 in the session.
“India, I think missed a big trick with their choice of bowlers right after the Lunch break. That allowed South Africa batters to get away. I think that was a big mistake, tactically,” Shastri said.
Prasidh and Shardul bowled 8 years in tandem after the Lunch break and gave away 42 runs. Elgar and De Zorzi scored at least a boundary in each of those overs as the two batters got well set in the middle. Bumrah came in as the first change, but Elgar was comfortable after having given so many freebies following the break.
‘MOST FLUENT ELGAR’
Elgar went on to score his first Test hundred in Centurion and it came at a good pace. The left-handed opener hit 20 boundaries before he crossed the 3-figure mark in one of his most fluent knocks.
“This is the most fluent I have seen Dean Elgar. The way he has driven through the off-side and the way he has flicked anything on that pads. His strike rate shows that as well. Almost 80 percent of his runs have come in boundaries. It shows he has been on the lookout for loose balls,” Shastri said, lauding Elgar’s knock.
Bumrah got the wickets of De Zorzi and Keegan Petersen in quick succession in the 2nd session, but Elgar and debutant David Bedingham kept the charge going, stitching a 100-plus stand in quick time. Bedingham hit a fifty on debut as he looked in complete control of the proceedings in the final session.
Tune In
[ad_2]
Source link