Sourav Ganguly pitched in with an invaluable innings, 2008 (PC- ESPNcricinfo)
Mohor Chaudhuri
In March- April 2008, South Africa toured India for a three-match Test series which ended in a very dramatic 1-1 draw. The opening test saw Virendar Sehwag’s monumental 319 in Chennai, as India posted a gigantic total of 627. South Africa’s was led by Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie, and the match eventually ended in a draw. The second Test in Ahmedabad was disastrous for India as they were bundled out for only 76 in the first innings. The hosts were outplayed by a massive total of 494/7 declared, thanks to an epic 217* by AB de Villiers. India showed some fight in the second innings, by posting 328, but they lost by an innings and 90 runs.
Before the series decider in Kanpur, India were dealt a severe blow when an integral part of their team, captain Anil Kumble, failed to recover from the groin injury that he had suffered earlier. But with MS Dhoni leading for the first time and thanks to Harbhajan Singh’s critical four-wicket haul and Sourav Ganguly’s vital 87, India chased down 62 to emerge victorious and level the series 1-1.
It was a similar story in 2010, when Dale Steyn’s old-ball mastery and 7/51 blew India in Nagpur. When South Africa reached 218-1 on the first day at Eden Gardens, the series was theirs for the taking. But Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan triggered a collapse to 296 all out, and despite hundreds in both innings from the redoubtable Amla, it was India that won by an innings to square the series.
A few months later, they journeyed to the southern Cape and were bowled out for 136 in the first innings at Centurion, thanks to a fiery spell from Morne Morkel, now their bowling coach. South Africa responded with a mammoth 620/4 declared, powered by a beautiful double-hundred from Kallis. India managed 459 in the second innings, courtesy Sachin Tendulkar’s 111, but still lost by an innings.
Dhoni’s side, however, bounced back in Durban, where they posted 205 and 228 on a lively surface to win by 87 runs. Sreesanth’s snorter to Kallis still gets plenty of views on YouTube, though it was South Africa’s master batter that struck a superb 161, batting with broken ribs, to ensure that the final Test at Newlands was drawn despite Tendulkar’s masterful 146 in a contest for the ages against the rampaging Steyn.
The first Test of this series ended in utter disappointment for India, beaten by 30 runs on their home turf in Kolkata. Nearly 120,000 were in attendance for the three days and most were left heartbroken by the unexpected turn of events. After witnessing that below-par batting performance and with captain Shubman Gill’s participation in doubt for the next match in Guwahati, cricket enthusiasts have been clinging to shreds of hope. Just as in 2008 and 2010 (twice), when India clawed their way back from a 0-1 deficit, fans will hope for a familiar script – and history repeating itself – as the team journeys further east.
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