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

[AliB]

Didn't see it coming...

Kohli steps down as India's Test captain

The 33-year-old had already resigned as the T20I captain and was removed as ODI skipper

www.cricbuzz.com

 

[harishankar]

I am not totally shocked at Kohli’s decision. Appeared to me when Shastri left that Dravid-Kohli combo wouldn’t last long somehow. There is definitely a clash of personalities. And seems to me that this South African loss has only made the decision easier.

But if KL Rahul is appointed captain for Tests I fear india can give up hope of making the WTC final and also Long term dominance in this format.

 

[Rehan_24]

Its sad I would say. He made you won against Australia in Australia. Something which no Asian Captain has ever done. He should have been there but I think there is something cookin within the dressing room and team. Indian team really needs stability again.

Regarding this tour, its always tough to play in South African Bouncy tracks for any Asian side. Any captain other than Virat, the team would have struggled.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

My source was Cricbuzz and they don't have the pebbles to BS!

Post automatically merged: Jan 16, 2022

Liberating day for world cricket today and it's hilarious how the world is sucking up to it after whatever happened! I have a feeling the sword has fallen rather than it being handed over!

 

[SaiSrini]

My source was Cricbuzz and they don't have the pebbles to BS!

Post automatically merged: Jan 16, 2022

Liberating day for world cricket today and it's hilarious how the world is sucking up to it after whatever happened! I have a feeling the sword has fallen rather than it being handed over!

Funnily, a few days later, Cricbuzz carries a new article now where they credit KL Rahul for making that statement "whole country against 11 guys". Here is that new article -

How India's DRS tantrum played into South Africa's hands

A DRS-assisted reprieve to the South African captain cost India their composure at a crucial juncture, and hence the match and a shot at a historic series win

www.cricbuzz.com

I think all news has credited Rahul to have made this statement, and this is a pretty damning statement to make for a guy who's a vice captain and is being seen as a future leader. To me, this statement should ideally make him lose his vice captaincy status (its not like he's new to controversial statements - we can go back to his Koffee with Karan stint with Hardik that created a storm and got him disciplinary actions from BCCI).

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Funnily, a few days later, Cricbuzz carries a new article now where they credit KL Rahul for making that statement "whole country against 11 guys". Here is that new article -

How India's DRS tantrum played into South Africa's hands

A DRS-assisted reprieve to the South African captain cost India their composure at a crucial juncture, and hence the match and a shot at a historic series win

www.cricbuzz.com

I think all news has credited Rahul to have made this statement, and this is a pretty damning statement to make for a guy who's a vice captain and is being seen as a future leader. To me, this statement should ideally make him lose his vice captaincy status (its not like he's new to controversial statements - we can go back to his Koffee with Karan stint with Hardik that created a storm and got him disciplinary actions from BCCI).

He did nothing wrong in that TV show and neither did Pandya. That is my opinion.

The main thing is Rahul a) is not a great captain b) is not established enough to be test captain

I don't know what the others feel but I feel Ganguly is now moving the pieces in the cricketing puzzle with the assistance of Dravid. I have no doubt in my mind that Kohli is now having his wings clipped and it is all happening in the background. I expect all this to come out in a book one day.

Unbelievable how Bumrah and Jadeja are not even considered as captains.

 

[icyman]

After the historical Mike Deness incident I doubt if any match referee would dare ban any superstar Indian player.

Kohli as captain deserved a ban surely. Ashwin and KL should have been fined 100% match fee at the very least.

Denness incident targeted 6 players without proper evidence. At the press conference, Mike Denness was unable to provide any justification /answer questions. Also, remember the charges then were ball tampering and excessive appealing(relative).

Here, the evidence presents itself. I don't think it was on account of the Denness incident that they didnt press the charges tbh.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Denness incident targeted 6 players without proper evidence. At the press conference, Mike Denness was unable to provide any justification /answer questions. Also, remember the charges then were ball tampering and excessive appealing(relative).

Here, the evidence presents itself. I don't think it was on account of the Denness incident that they didnt press the charges tbh.

The fact is that ICC don't have guts to question a BCCI player!

 

[harishankar]

Denness incident targeted 6 players without proper evidence. At the press conference, Mike Denness was unable to provide any justification /answer questions. Also, remember the charges then were ball tampering and excessive appealing(relative).

Here, the evidence presents itself. I don't think it was on account of the Denness incident that they didnt press the charges tbh.

That’s true but even back then the BCCI was calling the shots and the Indian public burnt effigies of Deness. I don’t think Mike Deness had much of a career in match refereeing after that.

 

[icyman]

The BCCI was far powerful in those days than it is now. Ganguly and Shah have been trying to get them to that position, but it is quite tough. The main thing that worked against the BCCI in the recent past has been the Lodha reforms +Shashank Manohar as ICC President /Chairman.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

The BCCI was far powerful in those days than it is now. Ganguly and Shah have been trying to get them to that position, but it is quite tough. The main thing that worked against the BCCI in the recent past has been the Lodha reforms +Shashank Manohar as ICC President /Chairman.

Yup.

The Power Jagmohan Dalmiya had during that time is nothing compared to now despite having more money and revenue.

And Jagmohan Dalmiya was respected across the globe too.

 

[CerealKiller]

Shashank Manohar as ICC President /Chairman.

He might've been against BCCI's interest, but he was the best chairman for world cricket. During the negotiations to unwind the Big 3 dictatorship, i remember the BCCI proposed to cut the Associate funding to zero in order for them to receive more revenue.

 

[Rehan_24]

Maybe Virat knew that its coming to him from BCCI after this defeat against South Africa, so he made a wise choice and stepped down himself. Personally, I feel that he should not have been sacked from the ODI captaincy. Stepping down as T20 captain was his personal choice, he wanted to continue with other two formats. The guy gave the team so much, still is the backbone. Not a good move I would say.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Its sad I would say. He made you won against Australia in Australia. Something which no Asian Captain has ever done. He should have been there but I think there is something cookin within the dressing room and team. Indian team really needs stability again.

Regarding this tour, its always tough to play in South African Bouncy tracks for any Asian side. Any captain other than Virat, the team would have struggled.

Just missed out on this

Firstly India won in Australia when Smith & Warner were banned. Secondly, Travis Head was the best batsman in the team followed by Pat Cummins. Now when a bowling all-rounder is the second best batter in the side, you can clearly figure out the strength of that team.

We won against a lot stronger, meaner Australian team playing under Covid protocols after being bowled out on 36 in the first game. It was Rahane who took up the reigns that time. Also, India have a team that suits the conditions in Australia so everytime we would take a batting line-up that scores around 330, we will win 7/10 times.

And it is not like we lacked ability to win in South Africa. We just won comprehensively in the first game and from there we had to take it forward. But instead we went clueless into the 2nd game with a new Captain that had no idea about Captaincy in the longer form of the game.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Quite surprised to see that approach South Africa has had in this game thus far. They look tied up and are finding it hard to rotate strike. This pressure literally ate up Markram and hence you see that run-out. Tbh Markram can't really keep throwing it away. I feel his days are just numbered now if he doesn't perform soon.

On to the pitch, the bounce seems quite sub-continent -ish while the pace hasn't really caught up. I think by the time India would be batting, the surface will quicken up a bit. Anything under 240 and this is India's game. This however doesn't seem like a 275+ pitch at all. Anything more than 250 is going to worry India.