India will need a miracle to save the game from here. Eight wickets are still in hand, and while we have seen miracles happen in the past, the way India have batted so far in this series means not even the most ardent fans will be expecting one. With South Africa prolonging the declaration, India did have a glimmer of hope. A solid start could have meant they might save the game. And that’s what brings me to Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal has scored hundreds across the cricketing world. He has scored a century in England and another in Australia, not to mention multiple hundreds at home. But he still needs to learn the art of graft. Test-match batting is not about cheeky shots over the wicketkeeper’s head for six. It looks nice, but it serves no real purpose. The ball he fell to was a regulation delivery. He could have easily left it alone, but his instinct is to cut. He did the very same at Eden Gardens, and he did it again here. Yes, on some days he will get a boundary, but that’s what separates the best from the merely good. A faint edge, and India had lost a key man.
This one dismissal sums up India’s story: poor shots, unnecessary aggression, questionable temperament, and an inability to adapt. It has been a very disappointing series. The truth is, this side isn’t showing the temperament or the skill needed to play spin. In the first innings, they were bounced out by Marco Jansen. And in the second, they have had no clue against Simon Harmer or Keshav Maharaj.
In the morning, when the ball was doing quite a bit, India seemed to be going through the motions, almost waiting for the declaration. There was no real effort to push South Africa or make things happen. Yes, they had the lead, but you can still challenge the opposition—that’s Test cricket. For some reason, Rishabh Pant the captain did not push. The field was spread, and it became all too easy for the Proteas.
In Kolkata, it wasn’t an unplayable wicket; it was a lack of application. India simply did not show the necessary skill. In Guwahati, on a better pitch, both batting and bowling have been found wanting. At the end of day one, India had South Africa at 247/6 and were the happier side. But on day two, the score went to nearly 500. Little was done to stem the tide, and the team just did not look the part.
In every sense, India have been poor. Coming within 12 months of the New Zealand debacle, this will understandably make the supporters restless. There has to be introspection and soul-searching. Corrective measures are needed, and questions must be asked about whether some of these players are indeed suited for Test cricket.
Can India do the unthinkable today and save the game? Can Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Pant or Ravindra Jadeja stand up? Can Nitish Reddy justify his selection? It can still be done, and a lot can still be redeemed. For Gautam Gambhir, Pant and the boys, it is essential that they show fight. Otherwise, things are looking dire, to be honest.
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