While the cricketing fraternity has been busy debating whether Indian batsmen have forgotten the art of spin, the bowlers also seem to have misplaced something – the willingness to toil and work hard for wickets on pitches that are not home dustbins. India paid the price for being timid and reactive, both with the ball and in their tactics, as South Africa piled up a commanding 489 in the first innings.
Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal survived a nervous period of 6.1 overs before bad light led to the loss of overs for the second consecutive day in the Test.
South Africa made the Indian bowlers toil for 151.1 overs – almost ten overs longer than the entire first Ashes Test in Perth. Versatile Senuran Muthusamy, 31, hit his maiden Test hundredwhile lower-order batsman Marco Jansen smashed a career-best 93.
The last four South African wickets added a massive 242 runs as Muthusamy and Jansen forced the Indian bowlers to work tirelessly throughout Day 2. India had the visitors 247 for 6 at stumps on Day 1, but they squandered a chance to wrap up the innings and allowed the lower order to do much more than wag their tails.
India, under pressure after losing the opening Test in Kolkata last week, are now staring at another climb. After letting South Africa bat for almost two whole days, the hosts face a dismal first innings total on a pitch that is expected to get worse. Time may not be on their side either. India need to bat urgently to get a result; South Africa, leading 1-0, happily close out the tie to seal the series.
