India's Tour of South Africa Dec 21 - Jan 22

[Sherlock Holmes]

Why don't our bowlers bowl on the face? In Shoaib Akhtar style, a phenta...

Because endorsements > cricket

 

[harishankar]

I feel India has leaked too Many boundaries. Yes, Elgar‘s wicket is important but they almost need to blast out the South Africans tomorrow morning to win this. Don’t see much hope now with just 111 runs to play with.

Well maybe next tour. Well played SA in this series. We’ll see them in the dust bowls of Kanpur or Ahmedabad on their tour

 

[Bigby Wolf]

How the fearsome tweak that is going over the stumps?

DRS in the series is questionable. The first Mayank Agarwal dismissal in the opening test was questionable too

Supersport with some clarifications.

 

[AliB]

I feel India has leaked too Many boundaries. Yes, Elgar‘s wicket is important but they almost need to blast out the South Africans tomorrow morning to win this. Don’t see much hope now with just 111 runs to play with.

Well maybe next tour. Well played SA in this series. We’ll see them in the dust bowls of Kanpur or Ahmedabad on their tour

2015, oh boy!

 

[Bevab]

They still need a hundred runs and the ones I’m most worried about are Bavuma and KP. Get those two out and we stand a very real chance.

 

[harishankar]

Would be interesting to see how many runs were scored in the third man region. Why don’t Indian captains use a third man? It’s been this way since Sourav Ganguly as captain! So many edges go for four.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Would be interesting to see how many runs were scored in the third man region. Why don’t Indian captains use a third man? It’s been this way since Sourav Ganguly as captain! So many edges go for four.

India got many runs down that region too. Most of the teams these days don't have fielders at third man for reasons that I may not know.

 

[SaiSrini]

Poor stuff from Kohli and Ashwin! I am surprised that Ashwin of all people resorted to such jibes against the broadcaster. Is he trying to get on the good books of Kohli, with all the off field rumors about him not jibing well with Kohli going on for a long time? I am frankly shocked with Ashwin's reaction and I do not accept the way he has reacted to this on field and into the stump mic.

And Kohli was downright pathetic, littering the camera team with the F word and all while talking into the stump mic.... This is just blatant abuse and they've made themselves look like cry babies. I know some fanatics will come and say "emotions must be allowed in cricket and all", but there is a decorum to show emotions and clearly both Kohli and Ashwin have crossed it (Kohli way over the line). Same thing with KL Rahul too ("whole country playing against 11 guys".)... VERY POOR!!

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Urge everyone to watch cricinfo's review of the day's play. Big big props to Daryl Cullilan!!

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Sometimes it worries me that Dravid is associated with these guys. What happened today was beyond pathetic and I think as bad as the DRS call was, the reaction has truly overshadowed it. Also, to accuse a country like SA who are always so so fair and giving as a nation. Terrible!

It becomes hard to see your own country in the same light but we are about as bad as the Ponting brigade of the 00. Unnecessary bully culture. Excellent choice of vice captaincy in KL. He has graduated with flying colours from the Kohli school of abuse and garbage. Just terrible!

This is not our culture and definitely not a representation of our country. And no I am not a Softie. I believe in playing as aggressively as you can and even giving it back if you get some on the field. A bit like Sourav Ganguly did. Our culture, our representation is embodied in the innings Pant played where we represent a new India and don't take one backward step but with grace and while we are at it even provide a laugh or two.

I can't support SA tomorrow but I don't think I will really be supporting these rowdy hooligans either!

 

[SaiSrini]

Sometimes it worries me that Dravid is associated with these guys. What happened today was beyond pathetic and I think as bad as the DRS call was, the reaction has truly overshadowed it. Also, to accuse a country like SA who are always so so fair and giving as a nation. Terrible!

It becomes hard to see your own country in the same light but we are about as bad as the Ponting brigade of the 00. Unnecessary bully culture. Excellent choice of vice captaincy in KL. He has graduated with flying colours from the Kohli school of abuse and garbage. Just terrible!

This is not our culture and definitely not a representation of our country. And no I am not a Softie. I believe in playing as aggressively as you can and even giving it back if you get some on the field. A bit like Sourav Ganguly did. Our culture, our representation is embodied in the innings Pant played where we represent a new India and don't take one backward step but with grace and while we are at it even provide a laugh or two.

I can't support SA tomorrow but I don't think I will really be supporting these rowdy hooligans either!

True and well said! I actually change my assessment from above a little bit, and would place KL Rahul's rant "whole country against 11 guys" as the WORST comment ahead of Kohli's expletive ridden comment against the camera team! His comment basically put the entire country of South Africa in a very negative light and WOW, that is just so so terrible!!

It truly scares me now that KLR is the next in line afte Rohit Sharma to take up captaincy in Indian cricket across all formats!!

 

[CerealKiller]

as bad as the DRS call was

They showed another ball from Ashwin in the next over, with the same length, and it also bounced over the stumps.

Supersport with some clarifications.

 

[icyman]

India acted like poor losers. Yes, decisions sometimes do not go in your favour, but that doesn't mean you rub it into the face of the opposition everytime. (in this case, Supersport). The only saving grace being there was no Mohd Siraj here. Else, they might have been required to call off play for the rest of the day. This behaviour actually has gotten me thinking- are tensions are already running high in the dressing room with members being increasingly split into Kohli-KL combo / Rohit supporters? Culd be, given VK's outbursts against Rahane and Pujara, I wouldn't be surprised if the team is divided currently.

I would be amazed if the 3 involved do not cop ICC bans here. To curb such behaviour, it would be great if the BCCI institutes its own penalties/ bans. Playing 3 games without Kohli - India has adequate bench strength to challenge any opposition.

It truly scares me now that KLR is the next in line afte Rohit Sharma to take up captaincy in Indian cricket across all formats!!

Pray and hope MI pick Shreyas in the auction. That basically paves the way for him to deputize for Rohit. Think this is what would happen.


Back to the actual match. I think SA have a very good chance here. They are playing in their backyard, know the conditions perfectly well and with only 100 runs to get, its should be easy for them. As someone mentioned above, their middle order seems shay, but I am sure they can stitch together some form to get over the line here. My bet is on Rassie van der Dussen coming into form here.

 

[icyman]

In terms of India's 2nd innings, a few questions- why arent people pointing fingers at Rahul, Mayank failures? Even Pant? Scoring this 100 doesnt mean he is consistent. Now, this is exactly what we are getting with Rahane and Pujara. However, I feel their age is the only thing going against them. The likes of KLR, Mayank, Pant, too havent been consistent with their scores and this is also a cause of concern. Hope people start seeing this trend soon.

 

[harishankar]

Kohli and co should have kept their mouths shut but given the awful Drs goof ups we’ve seen in this series, a formal complaint has to be lodged. If there really is dependence on the host broadcasting for making DRS decisions then both teams have to agree before the series not to use DRS. This was not the only bad drs decision in this series.

I feel we should not miss the genuine grievance of the Indian team just because of the uncalled for outburst of Kohli and co.