Decisive moments in the India-South Africa test series

India managed a stunning comeback win at the Wanderers to improve the series scoreline and salvage some pride. But despite a 2-1 victory, it wasn't a series where South Africa dominated India completely. In fact, India claimed all the opposition wickets on offer - the first time this has happened in an away tour (outside the sub-continent), since the 1986 England tour - and for that, a lot of credit should go to the bowlers themselves and the bowling coach. It takes a lot of practice and significant mental adjustment to alter the natural length when bowling. Except for the first innings at Newlands, where barring Bhuvneshwar Kumar everybody else leaked runs and looked largely ineffective, the bowlers came to the party more often than not. For this, they deserve a lot of credit. Had they received slightly better support from their batting lineup (as well as fielders), India may well have achieved their first series victory in South Africa.

So what were the turning points in this test series? Following are some decisive ones.

1st Test - Cape Town

AB de Villiers' counterattack - 9th over of SA's 1st innings

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had taken three top order wickets in his four overs (and conceded only 7 runs) and he bowled the 9th over to AB de Villiers. ABDV counter-attacked India's best bowler, crashing him for four boundaries in that over (between point and covers) and shifting the pressure back on Bhuvi. South Africa, who were 15/3 after 8 overs, plundered 92 runs of the next 18 overs (run rate of 5.11) to go to lunch in a strong position at 107/3.

Dhawan's drop reprieves Maharaj - 47th over of SA's 1st innings

In the 45th over, Bhuvi had dismissed de Kock for a quick-fire 43 (off 40 balls) and hence, had broken a very threatening partnership with Philander (60 runs in 9 overs). In his next over, he moved the ball away, took the outside edge of Keshav Maharaj's bat but Dhawan put down a straightforward chance at third slip. South Africa were 202/6 then and by the time Ashwin found him short of his crease with a direct hit, Maharaj had compiled 35 brisk runs and put on 56 vital runs with Philander and Rabada. South Africa were eventually dismissed for 286 runs.

Elgar's drop lets off Pandya - 42nd over of India's 1st innings

India were struggling at 91/6 with Hardik Pandya on 15, when he punched a short ball outside off and it flew to Dean Elgar at gully. The South African opener dropped the catch (Steyn being the unlucky bowler) and Pandya went on to score 78 out of India's next 118 runs (he was also let off on 71 when de Kock missed a stumping chance). The Indian all-rounder put on a crucial 99-run partnership with Bhuvi and saved India from a massive first innings deficit.

Shami's misjudgement reprieves Elgar - 2nd over of SA's 2nd innings

South Africa, leading by 77 runs, hadn't opened their account in the second innings when Dean Elgar, on a pair, pulled Bumrah's first delivery and got a top edge. Shami ran in from mid-on but misjudged the skier slightly, and eventually missed the ball. A quicker fielder would've got to it and it was a missed opportunity that proved really costly for India. The two SA openers put on a 52-run opening stand before they lost their entire side for the addition of only 78 additional runs as the Indian quicks ran amok.

Philander setting up Kohli - India's 2nd innings

Chasing 208 for victory, India got off to a decent start before losing the top 3 for merely 9 runs and finding themselves in a spot of bother at 39/3. The stage was set for India's best batsman to take India through. Kohli and Rohit put on a confident stand and Kohli was looking very assured. In the 18th over (India had reached 60/3), Faf du Plessis brought on Philander with a specific plan. In a 15-ball spell (11 balls bowled to Kohli), Philander kept bowling outswingers outside the off-stump and the Indian skipper kept shuffling across in an attempt to cover the swing and defend the ball. Then Philander slipped in the in-swinger that caught Kohli napping. He had shuffled to off-stump and tried playing around his pads. However, he missed and was nailed in front of his stumps. It was a big moment in the game and one that surely broke the back of India's chase. India eventually lost by 72 runs to go 1-0 down in the series.

2nd Test - Centurion

Strange team selection by India

Bhuvi was India's highest wicket-taker and the second highest on either side at Cape Town (6/120). He had also scored more runs than all the specialist batsmen in his team. But in the strangest of selections in recent times, India dropped him for the second test and brought in Ishant Sharma (citing Ishant's ability to extract extra bounce). Not satisfied with that, the coach-captain duo of Shastri and Kohli also dropped the in-form Shikhar Dhawan and inducted KL Rahul.

Parthiv's drop lets off Amla - 51st over of SA's 1st innings

SA were 160/2 and Hashim Amla was on 30 when Parthiv Patel dropped him off the bowling of Ishant Sharma. The tall Delhi seamer had bowled a length ball slanting down the leg stump and Amla tried to glance it and got a thin edge which Parthiv failed to pouch. Amla would go on to score 82 and push South Africa to a challenging 335.

Pandya's brilliance & Philander's brain-fade - Overs 81-83 of SA's 1st innings

The hosts were sitting pretty at 246/3. Amla alongwith Faf du Plessis had stitched together a steady 47 run partnership and South Africa were looking at a 400+ total. Then, in the space of 14 deliveries, aided by some exceptional fielding, good bowling and poor running, the Proteas lost three wickets (two of them to run outs), including that of the innings top scorer Hashim Amla. Although, du Plessis batted well with the tail to take his team to 335, it was well below the 400 mark that looked very much achievable before this mini-collapse.

Ashwin's loose shot - 82nd over of India's 1st innings

India had fought back nicely from 164/5 with Kohli putting together two solid partnerships - first one worth 45 runs with Pandya (who got run out because of appallingly casual running) and then, an even more fruitful one of 81 runs with Ashwin. The tall offie was batting fluently on 38 (off 54 balls) and India, at 280/6 (and only 55 runs in the arrears), must have been targeting a slender first innings lead. Then du Plessis brought on Philander (who had gone wicketless till then) and took the second new ball. Off the third ball of Philander's over, Ashwin played a slightly loose shot to a widish out-swinger and the South African skipper took a really sharp catch at second slip. This was a crucial blow (Kohli was on 135 at the stage) and the Indian innings folded up for the addition of only 27 more runs, thereby conceding a crucial lead of 28 runs.

Parthiv's non-attempt benefits Elgar - 25th over of SA's 2nd innings

South Africa had recovered well, although not sufficiently so, from 3/2 to 70/2. Both Elgar and de Villiers had settled nicely into their respective batting rhythms before a rain-break held up proceedings for an hour. Post the resumption of play, Kohli immediately brought on his most successful bowler, Bumrah, and the lanky Gujarat seamer extracted disconcerting bounce from round the wicket that had Elgar fending. The ball took his glove and flew to the left of Parthiv Patel (Pujara was standing at widish first slip) who simply let the ball go by. It was clearly a keeper's catch and it went to Parthiv's natural side, yet he didn't even go for the catch (blaming Pujara later). This proved to be another crucial moment in the game as Elgar and de Villiers added another 74 runs to their partnership with Elgar, who was then on 29, going on to score 60.

Umpire's call reprieves du Plessis - 65th over of SA's 2nd innings

Philander and du Plessis had staged a solid recovery after South Africa had lost three quick wickets (from 144/2 to 163/5) but the target was still not out of India's reach as yet. On the third ball of his 2nd over of the innings, with the South African score at 199/5, Pandya trapped du Plessis in front with an in-swinger. The on-field umpire gave it not out and India used the Decision Review System (DRS). Everything was perfect except that the ball was just clipping the bails and hence the system went with the umpire's call. Had that been given out, the DRS would've stayed with that decision too. This turned out to be a crucial rub of green going South Africa's way as du Plessis, then on 20, went on to score 48 and took his team to 258, thereby setting India a target of 287 which proved well out of reach. South Africa won by 135 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

3rd Test - Johannesburg

Umpire's call reprieves Pujara - 6th over of India's 1st innings

India chose to bat first on a greentop and already Philander was making that decision look like a foolish one, by moving the ball menacingly both ways. He had first taken out KL Rahul for a duck and Pujara too was on zero (team score was 7/1), when a series of out-swingers were followed by one that went straight on and hit Pujara in front. The on-field umpire didn't uphold the LBW appeal and the South Africans reviewed using DRS. In a sort of reversal of fortunes, the ball was just clipping the bails and hence umpire's call came to Pujara's rescue. This proved crucial as Pujara went to score a half-century (exactly 50) and put together a very crucial 84-run partnership with Kohli.

No-review reprieves Pujara - 20th over of India's 1st innings

Pujara again got lucky in the 20th over, while (incredibly!) still on duck. Ngidi bowled it fuller and beat Pujara for pace. The South Africans went up in an LBW appeal but after the umpire turned it down, they didn't opt for a DRS review. Replays showed all three reds, meaning Pujara would've been on his way had South Africa reviewed that decision. India, at 27/2, were still not out of the woods at that point.

Umpire's call reprieves Amla, twice - 27th and 35th over of SA's 1st innings 

The nightwatchman Rabada and Hashim Amla had put together a useful little partnership of 46 runs when Kohli brought Ishant Sharma back, to bowl the 27th over. He swung his first delivery back into Amla and the stylish batsman, who was shuffling outside the off-stump throughout this test match, got beaten by the swing and was wrapped on his pads. As the appeal wasn't upheld, the Indians opted for a DRS review. It showed umpire's call for height and Amla, on 20 then, got a massive reprieve. 

Then again in the 35th over, Bhuvi pinged Amla in front and after the appeal was turned down, Kohli opted for a DRS review. It was once again umpire's call on height and Amla (on 34 then) got another life. He went on to score 61 runs.

Amla's dismissal leads to SA collapse - 60th over of SA's 1st innings 

Philander and Amla had put together a decent 44 run partnership for the 7th wicket, when Amla, batting well on 61 and having had a couple of lives, played an uppish flick to a leg stump half volley from Bumrah, straight into the hands of Pandya at deep square leg. His dismissal started a mini collapse wherein the last four wickets fell for the addition of only 25 runs, thereby restricting South Africa's lead to only 7. In the context of the match, this wicket assumed massive significance.

A life each for Rahane & Bhuvi as SA drop catches - 59th and 60th over of India's 2nd innings

India's 2nd innings saw an intriguing battle between bat and ball on a highly treacherous pitch. Kohli first combined with Vijay and then with Rahane to put India in a slightly better position but then India lost Kohli and Pandya in quick succession. Rahane was then joined by Bhuvi and the duo, overlooked in the previous test, were taking India to a stronger position when du Plessis brought Morkel back. Morkel produced steep bounce from round the wicket to induce a false shot from Bhuvi but Elgar couldn't cling on to an outside edge at gully. Three balls later, it was Rahane's turn to enjoy some luck. Rabada, probably getting tired from a longish spell, dropped one short outside the off-stump. Rahane tried to play an upper cut but lost control and skied it to Phehlukwayo at deep point but the South African all-rounder put down a relatively straight forward chance. India were 178/6 then and only 171 ahead. Eventually, this pair added 25 more and Bhuvi also combined with Shami to steer India to 247, in the process setting South Africa a far more challenging target of 241.

Amla's loose shot triggers another SA collapse - 53rd over of SA's 2nd innings

South Africa were chasing a target of 241 and contrary to all expectations, Elgar and Amla put together a gritty partnership of 119 runs for the second wicket. The hosts looked on course for a 3-0 series victory. With victory just 117 runs away, Amla played a loose shot. Ishant bowled a fuller length delivery, angled into the middle stump and the constantly-shuffling Amla flicked uppishly, straight to Pandya at short mid-wicket. South Africa then went on to lose their next four established batsmen (including Philander) for the addition of only 33 runs. This was mainly on account of some outstanding bowling by the Indian seamers, esp. Shami and Bumrah. South Africa were shot out for 177 thereby handing India a famous victory (by 63 runs). 

Sri Lanka test series: Key takeaways for India

This blog is available as a video blog on https://youtu.be/LytF_FFwfWY

A three-test series, billed as part of the first full tour by an Indian team since 2009, ended in 11 days of play. Sri Lanka managed to cross 300 only once in the first two tests, and then, couldn't even cross 200 in the final test. Such was India's domination that they had a first innings lead in excess of 300 in all three tests and enforced follow-on in the last two matches. When one team scores nearly 2,000 runs in three and a half innings (avg. RPW of 61), while the other team cannot even manage 1,500 runs in six innings (avg. RPW of 24), it demonstrates, not just the different performance levels, but also the gulf in class between the two sides. The winning team, therefore, finds it difficult to take positives from the series. However, on account of bold team selection as well as some luck, India managed some positives from this series.

Hardik Pandya's emergence as an all-rounder

With 178 runs in 3 innings and 4 wickets in the 32 overs he was asked to send down, Hardik Pandya began repaying the faith that the team management has shown in him, over the last 12 months or so. His rise through the ranks has been meteoric. A first class debut in November 2013 was followed by selection in the Mumbai Indians playing XI in the 2015 IPL season. The India limited overs cap didn't take too long and he impressed one and all with his explosive batting and effective bowling. In fact, it was the rapid improvement in his bowling that encouraged the Indian team management to earmark him for the longest form of the game. A casual glance at his batting numbers in this series, esp. his strike rates, may give the impression that he played the same way as he does in the ODIs and T20s. But while he did provide the impetus in the first test by scoring a quickfire 50, his maturity stood out in the 3rd test. He strode in at 322/6 after the fall of Ashwin's wicket and India quickly lost Saha at 339. On a pitch that was giving some assistance to the bowlers, Pandya first stitched together a patient 62-run partnership with Kuldeep Yadav and then, when running out of partners, smashed 70 out of the last 86 runs while consuming 42 of the last 69 balls. Three out of the four wickets he took, were that of established batsmen. He also pouched four catches, second only to Rahane amongst non-wicket-keepers. A genuine all-rounder is worth his weight in gold and given that the overseas tours of South Africa, England and Australia are coming up, a pace-bowling all-rounder like Pandya could make a big difference.

Kuldeep Yadav firmly established

It was only due to the suspension of Jadeja from the 3rd test, that allowed the left-arm chinaman, Kuldeep Yadav, to play a test match in this series. Despite his series-winning performance in his debut test against Australia in March, once the captain and coach had made up their minds to play Pandya as the third seamer, it was always difficult for Kuldeep to feature in the starting XI. However, it didn't take Kuldeep too long to make a mark. He ran through the Sri Lankan middle and lower order in the first innings to hasten them to 135 all out and then broke a dangerous partnership between Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews in the 2nd innings. Overall, he picked up 5 wickets in his only test match at an impressive average of 19 and an even more impressive strike rate of 36 balls per wicket. Once again, the selectors and the Indian team management deserve a lot of credit for blooding this Kanpur lad and what has been very impressive is that Kuldeep has been effective across all formats of the game. The fuller length that Kuldeep prefers is ideally suited for test matches; yet it has worked wonders in the slam bang variety too. This is mainly on account of the disguise that Kuldeep deploys, wherein he's able to bowl both the normal chinaman as well as the wrong-un, with a scrambled seam. Given Ashwin and Jadeja's struggles in the Champions Trophy, Kuldeep would ideally be the no. 1 choice spinner in both ODIs and T20Is. And his performances in the limited opportunities he's got at the test level, should firmly establish him as the no. 3 spinner. In fact, I believe that in the upcoming overseas tours, if India decide to play with 2 spinners, Kuldeep's wrist spin would be far more effective on the bouncy pitches as compared to the finger spin of Ashwin and Jadeja.

KL Rahul continuing from where he left

KL Rahul was in a rich vein of form before injury halted his golden run. Till the 4th test against Australia in Dharamsala, Rahul had hit a half-century in each test of that series including five consecutive ones. Given his form in IPL 2016 and his vastly enhanced attacking strokeplay, the Bangalore lad was supposed to make a big impact in the IPL as well as in the Champions Trophy. Unfortunately, his shoulder injury required a surgery and that meant, 4 months out of the game. Then again, in Sri Lanka, he was laid low by viral fever and had to sit out of the first test at Galle. However, the tall right-hander was amongst runs as soon as he was back in the playing XI. He scored a half-century each in the two innings he batted, thereby becoming the first Indian batsman to score 7 consecutive test 50s. The only worry for Rahul would be that his last 8 test scores in excess of 50, have all ended short of the century mark. Nevertheless, the captain would be very pleased to see Rahul back in the team and his inclusion at the no. 4 spot for the upcoming ODIs is a sure indicator of the high esteem in which Rahul's technique, temperament and performances, are held by the Indian team management. 

Mohammed Shami's successful return from injury

Mohammed Shami, India's best quick bowler in test matches over the last few years, has had long-injury layoffs over the last two and a half years and this has caused him to miss many test matches. He returned to play in the West Indies tour in July 2016 after the knee surgery post-the 2015 World Cup, kept him out of the game for several months. Then, he was laid low again by knee injury against England and he missed out the 2nd half of the England series as well as the entire Australian series. A penetrative, test match class, quick bowler is such a rare commodity for Indian cricket and hence, his performances in this series must have been keenly watched by both selectors as well as the team management. And Shami didn't disappoint. He picked up 10 wickets, which was 3rd behind Ashwin and Jadeja, at a very impressive average of 17.7 and an amazing strike rate of 36.5. He was truly in his elements in the 3rd test, bowling at blistering pace and prising out 5 wickets while conceding less than 50 runs. All this augurs very well for future tours but India needs to manage Shami's workload properly so that there's no recurrence of the knee injury.

India has rested all their main test bowlers for the ODI leg of the tour. While this seems to be a sensible strategy for fast bowlers, at least one of Jadeja or Ashwin should've been part of the squad, as their one-day form, of late, hasn't been impressive. On the other hand, the ODI batting line-up seems to be at full-strength and the likely first choice line-up for the 2019 world cup. Interestingly, while Yuvraj has most likely been left out for good, Dhoni seems to have secured his swansong as his closest rival, Rishab Pant, has been unfairly dropped from the squad. India is expected to experiment and use this series as a build-up to the 2019 world cup. Here's then, wishing for a more competitive one-day series!