When Virat Kohli and co. had stepped into South Africa, there was this air of expectancy around the team that had dominated their home season. It was a team that could challenge South Africa, no matter what the conditions, no matter what the pitch. Or that is how it seemed.
While Virat Kohli was pretty confident of India’s chances, owing to the balance that this side had, there was a sense of apprehension amongst cricket fans(and critics) all over the world, as this Indian side hadn’t toured one of the big guns for a long time.
And India seemed a little short on practice, especially the batsmen, who were still throwing their hands at wide deliveries, something that had become ‘muscle memory’ for them after having played so long on those flat pitches in India.
Hardik Pandya salvaged some pride for India by dishing out that outrageous counter attacking innings after India were tottering in the first innings.
But that one strong partnership in the first innings between ABD and Faf du Plesis proved to be the difference, as the duo brought about a brilliant mix of attacking and cautious cricket to take the game away from India.
The Indian bowlers kept India in the game, pitching the ball in the right areas and scripting a brilliant comeback in the second innings to restrict South Africa to just 130.
The Indian batsmen had a tough task on hand, with 208 to get in these seaming conditions, and while the start from Vijay and Dhawan was a confident one, the middle order just couldn’t string any partnerships together, which caused India’s downfall in a huge way.
Vernon Philander was wonderful with the ball in both innings, making the ball talk and constantly asking questions off the Indian batsman.
Twitter didn’t hold back in criticising the Indian players, especially the batsmen, who didn’t quite apply themselves in the testing South African conditions.
Check out the best tweets:
Pic 1: Indian Team in India..
Pic 2: Indian Team in Overseas…#SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/P3m29ohqnW— Helmet Man (@Ixhtiyaque) January 8, 2018
Sale is End.😁#INDvSA #SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/ZuC4m9rBpS
— Ms Rathore 🤓 (@msrathore07) January 8, 2018
Viewers: Yaay! SA bowled out for 130. Match toh hum hi jeetenge.
Team India:#INDvSA #SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/DMhdhqjU52
— Kaddu Karela (@Kaddu_Karela) January 8, 2018
Rohit Sharma’s Talent and overseas performance are inversely proportional to each other. 😂 #SAvsInd
— Shubham Thakur (@bisht12shubham) January 8, 2018
Meanwhile Kohli & Anushka planning another reception in Capetown tomorrow since there won’t be any play tom. #SAvsIND
— SAURABH VERMA (@saurabhverma735) January 8, 2018
India lose.
Big deal.
This has been such a superb test.
The plot changing every hour.
You’re watching Game of Thrones and halfway it’s become Breaking Bad and then Dr. Who.
Mad fun.#SAvsIND— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) January 8, 2018
When you don’t study even in the last week before exams 😭😭😭#SAvsInd #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/atIElX3j10
— Somitra baldua (@somitra_baldua) January 5, 2018
South Africa Beat India By 72 Runs In Cape Town Test. We Scored 5 More Runs Than SA In 2nd Inning. Moral Victory For Us. 😂🙏🇮🇳#INDvSA #INDvsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) January 8, 2018
South Africans after seeing the performance of Team India.#SAvsIND #IndvSA #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/IVQYgESRmg
— New Haryana (@new_vik21) January 8, 2018
Pitch right now #IndvsSA #SAvsInd pic.twitter.com/bsPiYdBJfG
— Black Lipstick (@Isoumyas) January 8, 2018
Team Indian on
SA-130/10
vs
Ind- 82/7 (29 overs) #SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/RuBPtxOA5Y— BAWAL 🔥 (@BawalHuMe) January 8, 2018
