Dean Elgar would have rued his decision to bat first on a pitch which turned out to be a fast bowler’s paradise with wickets going down like ninepins on the Day 1 of the first Test between India and South Africa at Newlands.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar was surprised by Elgar’s big call to ask an already under-pressure Indian team to bat first on a fresh pitch that was anyway expected to trouble batters.
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“Well, I tell you what, I was a bit surprised by what happened,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “Because a lot of times, captains and coaches make a big deal about what the pitch is gonna be…”
As it turned out, South Africa innings lasted 23.2 overs with 15 the top individual score in their team total of 55-all out.
The opening Test in Centurion saw India batters save for KL Rahul and Virat Kohli struggle against South Africa bowlers as the tourists suffered an innings defeat inside three days.
“I think you’ve also got to look at the psychology of the Indian team, having been defeated in three days, having batted so poorly in the second innings and going to be batting first on a fresh pitch would have been just a little bit defensive,” Gavaskar said.
“And I have thought that South Africans with the fast bowlers that they have in their lineup could look to take advantage of the fact that they have not played any cricket in between and therefore put them in,” he added.
In reply, India fared much better till they suffered a stunning collapse of their to be bowled out for 153 in 34.5 overs.
Gavakar recalled how on their last tour of Australia, the Indian team made a comeback in the second Test after being skittled for 36 in the series opener in Adelaide.
“Something similar happened in Australia two years ago, Australia dismissed India for 36. The next Test played in Melbourne, where the grass on the pitch was three millimetres more than the one at Adelaide,” Gavaskar said.
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