In the first innings of the highly anticipated Test match between South Africa and India in Centurion, the fans witnessed a remarkable display from Dean Elgar. Facing a challenging track favouring seamers, Elgar’s marathon innings of 185 runs off 287 balls not only showcased his prowess but also played a pivotal role in South Africa’s commanding position. His remarkable 28 fours on a tough pitch put South Africa firmly in the driver’s seat.
Despite the talk of India potentially surpassing their limits, the reality proved harsh as India managed only 131 runs in the second innings, thanks largely to Kohli’s resilient 76 runs. The match concluded with India suffering an innings and 32 runs defeat, highlighting the comprehensive dominance displayed by South Africa across all facets of the game.
Contrary to expectations, South Africa’s relatively inexperienced squad demonstrated exceptional maturity and discipline, outperforming the world’s best Test squad. In just three days, they pounded, battered, and outshone India. The turning point for India came in the first session of the Test, where they faced a heavy loss of wickets due to the seam movement of Rabada and debutant Nandre Burger. Despite KL Rahul’s brilliant century, India managed to reach only 245 in their first innings.
In response, South Africa strategically blunted the new ball with de Zorzi and Elgar, the latter scoring his maiden hundred at Centurion. Elgar’s innings, coupled with significant contributions from Jansen and Bedingham, left India with a daunting 163-run deficit. With the odds stacked against them, India’s chances of a comeback dwindled further in the second innings. Rabada’s exceptional bowling, combined with Nandre Burger’s brilliant performance, dismantled India’s top order and bowlers.
The defeat prompted reflections on India’s batting performance. Many batters were criticised for throwing away their wickets and lacking the application to bat on a challenging pitch. Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan, during the Australia-Pakistan Test series, questioned whether India, with all their talent, could be considered one of the most under-achieving sports teams globally.
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Michael Vaughan Comes Down Hard On Team India After Centurion Loss
Vaughan, analyzing India’s recent track record, pointed out their struggle to secure victories in major tournaments since 2013. Despite their talent and skill sets, India has faced disappointment in the last few World Cups and T20 World Cups. Vaughan’s sentiments echoed the sentiments of many fans who expected more from a team of India’s caliber.
Highlighting India’s ICC tournament drought since 2013, Vaughan emphasised the team’s consistent setbacks in knockout stages. The ODI World Cup 2023 saw India dominating all games convincingly until the final, where they stumbled against Australia. The defeat in the final added to India’s recent string of disappointments in major tournaments.
Vaughan said: “Here’s a question for you – India, in terms of cricket, are they one of the most under-achieving sports team in the world?”
“With all the talent that they have… I think they are, yeah. Well, they don’t win anything. When was the last time they won something? With all the talent they have, all the skillsets… they won here (Australia) twice, magnificent but the last few World Cups, been nowhere, T20 World Cups, nowhere.
“You go so South Africa, who are, you know, useful in Test match cricket and to produce a performance like that… I mean, with all the talent they have, and the resources they have, I don’t think they win anything.”
"India is one of the most underachieving sports teams in the world." – @MichaelVaughan#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/RVVQYBo9bu
— Ragav 𝕏 (@ragav_x) December 29, 2023
