The Proteas have defeated India by 135 runs in the second Test of the three-match series at Supersport Park in Centurion. With this win, the hosts have won the series and have eventually completed the revenge of their 2015 tour when India had blanked them by 3-0 in the four-match rubber.
What all went in the first Test between India and South Africa at Newlands, the same repeated in the second Test at Centurion in the case of the Indian team. The bowlers bowled their hearts out, but the batsmen failed to show a spine except for Virat Kohli’s first innings 150.
In the two Test matches in South Africa, his decision to drop Ajinkya Rahane for Rohit Sharma raised a few eyebrows. Kohli maintained that Sharma had been selected on the basis of his “current form” which means that it was based on his performance against Sri Lanka at home.
India made three changes going into the second Test, bringing in KL Rahul, Parthiv Patel and Ishant Sharma in place of the in-form Bhuvneshwar Kumar, an injured Wriddhiman Saha, and Shikhar Dhawan. This made became the cynosure of cricket pundits and veterans players after gambling with the playing XI for the important Centurion encounter against South Africa.
Twitterati has also questioned why the BCCI was adamant about playing continuous series against Sri Lanka when the team needed more practice time to prepare for the Proteas challenge.
However, veteran Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir emerges as one of those people who is trying to explain fans and viewers, in general, to tone down the criticism and not to forget that it was the same side that was unbeatable for a year. Gambhir has come out in support of Virat Kohli and the team as he feels that the fans have been over critical of team India rather than appreciating South Africa’s performance in both the Tests.
He took to Twitter to say, “It’s time to show support for Indian team and not being over-the-top critical. This was the team that had such a fabulous run, two games don’t make them bad. Rather than being severe on our boys, let’s just give credit to d opposition @BCCI. Simple: Well played @OfficialCSA.”
Its time to show support for Indian team and not being over-the-top critical. This was the team that had such a fabulous run, two games don’t make them bad. Rather than being severe on our boys, let’s just give credit to d opposition @BCCI. Simple: Well played @OfficialCSA
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 17, 2018
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