IND vs SA: "India's Shot Selection Left Much To Be Desired"- Sachin Tendulkar On India's Flop Show In 1st Test

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar discussed Team India’s crushing defeat in the first Test match against South Africa. Sachin Tendulkar criticized the shot selection of Indian batters, emphasizing that only a few displayed batting skills in challenging conditions.

The Rohit Sharma-led suffered an innings and 32-run loss in the first Test in Centurion on Thursday, December 28. The visiting side was bowled out for just 131 runs in their second innings. India conceded a 0-1 lead to the opposition team in the two-match series.

Except KL Rahul, who secured a century in the first innings, and Virat Kohli, who contributed a half-century in the second, no other Indian batters made a substantial impact in the Test. Rohit Sharma only managed to score five runs across the two innings.

South Africa Pace Attack Surpassed Expectations – Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar took to X (formerly Twitter) to commend South Africa for their impressive performance, acknowledging that their pace attack exceeded expectations in the second innings despite the pitch favoring batters.

“Well played South Africa! While I initially felt the South African team would’ve been unhappy after the 1st innings, their pace attack surpassed expectations and showcased remarkable skill in the 2nd innings, in spite of the pitch becoming more favorable for batting as the match progressed.”

“From whatever I watched, India’s shot selection left much to be desired. Throughout the Test, only a few batters, namely Elgar, Jansen, Bedingham, @imVkohli and @klrahul truly seemed at ease with the bat, navigating the conditions with technique and poise,” wrote Tendulkar.

Well played South Africa!

While I initially felt the South African team would’ve been unhappy after the 1st innings, their pace attack surpassed expectations and showcased remarkable skill in the 2nd innings, in spite of the pitch becoming more favourable for batting as the…

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 28, 2023

Kagiso Rabada delivered a dominant performance, securing a five-wicket haul to dismantle the Indian batting lineup in the first innings. Despite the bowling onslaught, KL Rahul exhibited resilience, scoring a century and helping the team reach a decent total of 245.

The Indian bowlers conceded 408 runs to South Africa, resulting in a substantial lead of 163 runs for the hosts. Dean Elgar played a crucial role, achieving his second Test century against India with a score of 185 runs, while Marco Jansen remained unbeaten with 84.

In the second innings, all Team India batters, except for Virat Kohli (76) and Shubman Gill (26), surrendered without resilience as the Test match concluded within three days. It is worth mentioning that four Indian batters failed to register a single run in their innings.

India’s hopes of securing a Test series victory in South Africa after 31 years have been shattered, leaving them in a difficult position. The second and final Test match between Team India and South Africa is scheduled to take place in Cape Town on January 3, 2024.

Well Played KL Rahul – Sachin Tendulkar

On Instagram, Sachin Tendulkar praised Rahul’s clarity of thought and highlighted the significance of his century in the Test match. Tendulkar expressed satisfaction with India’s position at 245 after a challenging phase.

“Well played KL Rahul. What impressed me was his clarity of thought. His footwork looked precise and assured, and that happens when a batter is thinking right. This century is crucial in the contest of this Test. India would be happy with 245 considering where they were at one stage yesterday,” Tendulkar wrote.

Also read: IND vs SA: Virat Kohli Surpasses Rahul Dravid, Sits Behind Virender Sehwag & Sachin Tendulkar In Elite List