South Africa Vs India: Three things India need to rectify before Centurion Test

The contest was truly dominated by the bowlers from both sides in tandem before India would be embarking for the Centurion Test while talking three things for rectification into due consideration.

It’s not all about the treacherous surfaces across the cricketing globe particularly in the Test fold, it’s more about putting a hard-fought effort – to deliver the results which further saw the two top-ranked Test teams in the form of South Africa and visiting side wrestling it out in the see-saw battle at the picturesque Cape Town.

With India already going doing 0-1 in the three-match series, the number-one ranked side-led by Virat Kohli had plenty on the plate, but the batting has somewhat led them down in the wider circumstances.

Faf du Plessis-led Proteas have witnessed spectacular performances, particularly with the ball as the chief protagonist was 32-year-old local hero Vernon Philander, who wrapped his figures of nine for 75 in 30.1 overs which included his Test-best off six for 42 in 15.4 overs.

On the other side, the premium seam bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the highlight alongside seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was the top scorer of the match with 93 off 95 balls, before removing both the openers on his first-ever tour to the Rainbow Nation alongside the former.

Here are the three things India need to rectify and is supposed to do to get better of formidable South Africa in the Centurion Test which is beginning from January 13 at SuperSport Park:

Have a look at the batting, bowling; team combination:

Virat Kohli must side alongside the think-tank and head coach Ravi Shastri to plug in the loopholes in the batting line-up.

In a bid to strengthen the batting line-up which seemed to be low on confidence in the first Test, Kohli has had to look at Ajinkya Rahane, who has had done well when it comes to the overseas conditions.

Rohit Sharma, who got picked certainly for being in a spectacular form in the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.

However, the left and the right-handed combination seems to be a good ploy in a bid to unsettle bowlers a bit.
Interestingly, Kohli had a couple of options in the batting department which further see KL Rahul has been doing well.

Bowlers did their best, but creating more pressure could further play an imperative role.

Attacking mindset:

More the defence more the piling up of miseries when it comes to the tricky situations of the game which was clearly visible when India struggled with the bat expect heroics from Pandya, who played his natural game to make things difficult for the Proteas at one stage.

While talking precisely about the body language of Team India, the players are supposed to put a lot on an offer, as skipper Kohli must lead as an example after scoring just 33 in first two innings.

Inducing self-confidence:

Self-confidence is said to be a key to many opportunities the visitors should bank on the strength and resistance in the batting would be crucial on a surface like Centurion which has been traditionally quicker and even saw the batsmen making most out of the opportunities that were thrown at them.

On the other side, the bowlers had cherished with the red ball at the same time owing to the traditional support of bowling familiar conditions.

Following a lot of pep talk and afterthoughts India has a lot to prove in the overseas conditions after thoroughly enjoying the home success before warming up on the South African shores where they would be tested on more sort of difficult conditions and to our no surprise the seam bowlers are bound to yield desirable results.

To create a history, the seniors must step to the gas and fire on all cylinders as bowling has been far impressive when it comes to the alien conditions and a couple of changes might set the house in order.

Follow India’s tour to South Africa here: South Africa Vs India – 2018