It looks like South Africa is all set to give India a big target to chase at
The Centurion. Virat Kohli’s splendid century has done India a lot of good but would his solo heroics be enough? India could have done a lot better in their first innings and could have rather taken up a decent lead rather than giving away a lead to The Proteas.
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If South Africa post a total in excess of 300 then it would again be one difficult task for the Indian batsmen and it’s a lethal pace attack up against them.
Some mistakes on India’s part were too silly and they could have been avoided. These silly mistakes could very well cost India the Centurion Test and with that India would also go on to lose the series.
3 Silly Mistakes That Can Cost India The Match
1. Cheteshwar Pujara’s Suicidal Run Out
India needed him and Kohli to stay for as long as possible but he vanished the very first ball. There was never a run there and his desperation to get off the mark cost India. He was yards out of the crease and there was never a chance.
2. Hardik Pandya’s Lazy Run Out
Even schoolboys know that you got to drag your bat while completing a run but his lazy error cost India the unnecessary wicket. When India was 5 down, Kohli needed Pandya to provide him support from the other end but he got out in the most bizarre manner on just 15. As quoted by Sunil Gavaskar, “Hardik Pandya’s mistake in unforgivable”
3. Ashwin’s dismissal
Ravichandran Ashwin is an intelligent cricketer but he fell into the trap easily. After the new ball was taken he could have been wary rather than throwing his bat at deliveries outside off. South Africans we’re constantly bowling in that corridor of certainty and setting him up and Ashwin only made their job easier.
That was one crucial partnership and Ashwin was going well at 38. That dismissal could have really been averted.
