India vs SA: Will India Be Able to Salvage Pride at Johannesburg?

India fought well for most of the series but their batting and fielding let them down

India will be trying to avoid a whitewash at Johannesburg.

(Photo: BCCI)

Silence is the sound of the defeat, and currently, Team India must be dealing with this noise around them. The voice of criticism, self-doubt, scrutiny, dejection and disappointment. Disappointment with themselves for not living up to the hype and reputation they carried to South Africa.

Of late they haven't been used to such scenario. India lost the last Test series towards the beginning of 2015 against Australia. Since then India has mostly played at home and secured their fortress against sides like South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia.

In between, they travelled to Sri Lanka and West Indies and won those rubbers. But keeping in mind the current level of these sides India was expected to beat them and they did. It was India's first major Test after the long and successful home run, and they failed at it.

Trust me, no one in Indian cricket would be more crestfallen than those seventeen players and the support staff handling them. This is a very proud group of cricketers, and they the touched the shores of South Africa with high hopes and ambitions. And rightly so. Looking at a depth of this team, everyone felt that this side has a right mix of experience, aggression and ability to conquer any challenge or condition thrown at them.

Every cricket expert, felt that this was India’s best chance to win a series in South Africa. But the story didn’t change at all. In fact, it looked similar to India’s history of being good at home and fumbling abroad

Some of the critics have already compared this side with the Indian team of the nineties, where India was good at home but too dependent on Sachin Tendulkar. And that’s the kind of reliance Indian batting seems to have on their captain Kohli.

But what’s more frustrating is that the kind effort India has put up. After losing the first Test match in Cape Town, visitors had their best chance to make a comeback in the series.

The wicket at Centurion looked more like Kotla or Bengaluru, and India ended up bowling 31 overs of spin with Ashwin. This is the wicket where they should have thrived and recovered 

But then at every crucial juncture of the match, India made elementary mistakes to give the momentum and series to South Africa. Number one Test side in the world can’t afford to drop as many as six catches and three run outs in one match and expect to do well. Out of the all the errors in cricket, run outs and catches have nothing to do with playing conditions.

Shot selection also was one of the major issues with the Indian batters. One can imagine batsmen getting out while defending or showing intent and that’s justifiable. But while chasing 280 odd runs if you see batsmen losing wickets to nothing shots is a primary cause of concern. Especially for a side that wants to set high standards and make their legacy.

Look at this series, and you would see Indian fought well for most of the series, especially with the ball they matched fire with fire. But just about at every crucial moment their batting and fielding let them down. It wasn’t that they were utterly humiliated in the series. It’s just that whenever they had a chance to seise the opportunity, either they allowed it to slip away or made blunders to give their opposition a chance pounce over them.

The team would look up to leader Virat Kohli for inspiration at this moment of crisis.(Photo: BCCI)

There are questions and criticism over team selection, tactics, slip fielding standards, mental conditioning and aptitude of certain players under pressure. And rightly so. Virat didn’t shy away from being frank and honest about his assessment of their effort. “You can accept defeat but not the way we played, the way we let the advantage slip out of our hands, which is not acceptable from a team's point of view,"  It shows that he is hurt and seething

But knowing the core of this side and their work ethic they would come very hard at themselves. Only they can answer these questions and that too to themselves alone. They don’t have much time on their hand. They need to stop the whitewash in this series as 3-0 could look terrible and shake many things in Indian cricket.

This is a Test for all the people associated with the Team. The team would look up to their leader and captain who will be brutally honest but not over critical. Virat would need a lot of help from his Head Coach Ravi Shastri who doesn’t allow shoulders to drop very quickly. His beaming voice can install and reinforce bruised confidence and crushed ambitions very quickly. In the current scenario, some players would need solace; some would need advise, some a pat on their back and some may be asked tough questions.

Head Coach Ravi Shastri shouldn’t allow the shoulders to drop and try to instill confidence in the players.(Photo: BCCI)

But eventually, every player will have to own up their responsibility and figure out a way to pick their game. None of them is a youngster who needs hand-holding. They have been playing cricket for a while and very well understand their roles and responsibility. This is beginning of a tough and long season. If they don’t do the course correction now – Individually and collectively- then things can get pretty rough for them. They still have time to restore their pride and reputation. Only they can revive their faith and vigour to win matches. Let's back them to do it.

(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)