India tour of South Africa - 2013/14

[Aalay]

Virat Kohli, what a playerrrrrrr. He needs to keep going to allow India to reach 300-350

 

[aditya123]

Brave decision by India to bat first. Fingers crossed that India can manage to bat on till stumps and eventually manage a 300 - 350 total.

 

[shravi]

Virat Kohli is such a beast. INsane. UNreal.

Just unfortunate because Pujara was also looking very comfortable. Really enjoying this test so far.

 

[aditya123]

Virat Kohli is such a beast. INsane. UNreal.

Just unfortunate because Pujara was also looking very comfortable. Really enjoying this test so far.

Pujara was looking like he had booked in for the rest of the day. Very unfortunate but Indian fans can take heart from the fight shown by the top order except Dhawan. Even Vijay fought hard and at least weathered some of the early storm. Had`nt fell the excitement of watching a test match for a while now and been a real change from the one-sided affairs at home recently.

 

[crazyrahul]

Virat made his first hundred against Saffers

He needs support now from Rahane, Dhoni & Ashwin

 

[sami ullah khan]

Great fighting knock this from kohli. He has shocked Steyn and co With his technique and controlled aggression.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Kohli is brilliant, and I think being promoted up then order will mean we see even better from in tests. he was wasted pottering about at no.5.

I do think india have lost one wicket too many needlessly which will hinder their score. feel sorry for pujara, guided india past the new ball but missed out on chance to cash in a bit. Rahane needs to go on, but at least Ashwin bolsters things a little at no. 8.

all in all though they've coped well.

Why is Yadav not playing? still questions over his fitness?

 

[aditya123]

Kohli is brilliant, and I think being promoted up then order will mean we see even better from in tests. he was wasted pottering about at no.5.

I do think india have lost one wicket too many needlessly which will hinder their score. feel sorry for pujara, guided india past the new ball but missed out on chance to cash in a bit. Rahane needs to go on, but at least Ashwin bolsters things a little at no. 8.

all in all though they've coped well.

Why is Yadav not playing? still questions over his fitness?

Yadav isn`t playing because of Dhoni`s faith on Ishant! To think of it, the last time Yadav played for India, he was instrumental in winning the game against England at home last year.

 

[SaiSrini]

Well done Virat! Very very well done! This is a huge huge innings for him. To score hundreds like this against SA in SA, and that too right from the first test, SPLENDID!! Pujara looked great too until that mixup for a run out. Slight disappointment from Rohit and Dhawan. Rahane is looking good so far for his 26 odd runs.

If we can reach 300+ here, I would be very happy. If we reach 350-400, I would be delighted. We need a total for the bowlers, esp. Zaheer, to give India a fighting chance, more importantly a competing chance.

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Kohli is brilliant, and I think being promoted up then order will mean we see even better from in tests. he was wasted pottering about at no.5.

I do think india have lost one wicket too many needlessly which will hinder their score. feel sorry for pujara, guided india past the new ball but missed out on chance to cash in a bit. Rahane needs to go on, but at least Ashwin bolsters things a little at no. 8.

all in all though they've coped well.

Why is Yadav not playing? still questions over his fitness?

Ishant sneaked in due to form that he acquired from that last ODI where he took 4/40. We already have pace in form of Shami. And also, there is a chance Ishant might do well in the presence of Zaheer. Yadav was spraying the ball around in the ODI's and was coming after a layoff. I think Dhoni did well by going for the experienced Ishant. Ishant could be vulnerable in ODI's where he leaks runs, but in tests, he is not expected to be as bad.

 

[Aalay]

I think it's just because Yadav has been very wayward recently and his line and length hasn't been good enough. A bit like Steven Finn version of India. Ishant hasn't done anything spectacular either but he has played in South Africa before and his experience might have forced Dhoni to go with him.

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Well again, throwing the wickets away is not going to help. Need a really steady inning from Dhoni now.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

this could be a decent wicket for dhoni, balls coming on to the bat and he's not one to be intimidated by short bowling. will depend on him choosing the right strokes and seeing the new ball off but battering a quick 50 would be rather helpful.

 

[Aalay]

this could be a decent wicket for dhoni, balls coming on to the bat and he's not one to be intimidated by short bowling. will depend on him choosing the right strokes and seeing the new ball off but battering a quick 50 would be rather helpful.

I am not too sure about that with the new ball coming in. If Dale Steyn is at his 100%, than it might cause more trouble for India. It will be good if he survives though.

 

[Aalay]

So a decent day for India overall, they could have been much ahead but some silly mistakes have allowed South Africa to stay in the game. It is always good to see Rahane doing well and this is the advantage of having that extra batsman overseas rather than having Jadeja. Hopefully both Rahane and Dhoni can continue tomorrow and we can post something over 350. It was totally worth waking up at 3:30 A.M. to watch this.

 

[aditya123]

I think it's just because Yadav has been very wayward recently and his line and length hasn't been good enough. A bit like Steven Finn version of India. Ishant hasn't done anything spectacular either but he has played in South Africa before and his experience might have forced Dhoni to go with him.

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Well again, throwing the wickets away is not going to help. Need a really steady inning from Dhoni now.

Tell me about one occasion recently when Ishant was`nt wayward? Its high time we stop treating him like a newcomer in the side. He has been around for 50 test matches and still can`t hit the right lengths. Yadav needs to be given the long rope. He has shown that he can pick up wickets in test cricket, be it in Australia in 2011 or against England at home. Yet we keep picking Ishant at the slightest possible opportunity. If Dhoni keeps doing this, he would`ve ruined another of India`s raw quick bowling talent.

 

[Skater]

Excellet innings from Kohli. If Indian fans want their next legend, there he is.