Former Indian leg-spin legend Anil Kumble has delivered a scathing assessment of India's batting performance after the hosts found themselves in a precarious position against South Africa in the second Test match in New Delhi. The Indian team conceded a massive 288-run first-innings lead to the visiting Proteas, putting their chances of victory in serious jeopardy.
Batting Collapse on a 'Road' Pitch
India were bowled out for a disappointing 201 runs in response to South Africa's commanding total of 489. The collapse was particularly surprising given that Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav had earlier described the pitch as a "road," suggesting it should have been favorable for batting. The destruction was led by South African all-rounder Marco Jansen, who claimed impressive figures of 6 for 48 with the ball, adding to his valuable contribution of 93 runs on the second day.
South Africa reached 26 without loss in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 314 runs as they head into the fourth day of play. The visitors now lead the two-Test series 1-0 and are in a commanding position to secure their first Test series victory in India since the year 2000.
Kumble's Harsh Assessment
Speaking to JioStar, Kumble didn't mince words when analyzing India's batting approach. "I felt India's batting effort was quite poor," the former Indian captain stated. "The application and patience required in Test cricket were clearly missing from our batsmen's approach."
Kumble emphasized that while some dismissals resulted from good deliveries, the overall mindset seemed flawed. "The batsmen didn't appear prepared to endure tough spells or adopt a session-by-session approach. Instead, it seemed like the aim was to chase runs quickly, which is completely unrealistic when you're facing a deficit of 489 runs that needs to be built gradually."
The legendary spinner highlighted the importance of respecting opposition bowlers, something he felt was lacking in India's performance. "Respecting the opposition bowlers and their spells is crucial in Test cricket, but India didn't show enough of that resilience today."
Jansen's Dominant Performance
Kumble specifically praised Marco Jansen's exceptional bowling performance that put consistent pressure on the Indian batting lineup. "When Jansen started bowling bouncers, which can be particularly tricky given his height and the awkward length he generates, the Indian batsmen appeared completely unprepared to either leave the ball or take the blows," Kumble observed.
He stressed that such defensive approaches are essential in Test cricket to survive challenging spells from quality bowlers, but unfortunately, this element was conspicuously absent from India's batting strategy.
Steyn Praises South Africa's Dominance
Meanwhile, former South African pace spearhead Dale Steyn expressed his admiration for how the visiting team has controlled the match across three consecutive days. "It's rare to witness a visiting side dominate three days of cricket in India like this," Steyn remarked, acknowledging the unusual nature of South Africa's performance on Indian soil.
Steyn believed that South Africa's strategy and execution in the Guwahati conditions have simply outshone India's efforts. He pointed to several effective decisions made by the Proteas, starting with their choice to bat first after winning the toss.
The former fast bowler also supported captain Temba Bavuma's decision to bat again rather than enforce the follow-on against India. "When Temba Bavuma ran off the field, it was evident that the last hour of play would be challenging for the batsmen," Steyn explained.
He added, "The decision to continue batting was absolutely the right one - aiming to stay positive, take calculated risks, and if a wicket falls, so be it. Tomorrow provides a full day of batting in more favorable conditions, offering an excellent opportunity to build on this strong position."
As the match heads into its fourth day, India face an uphill battle to save the Test, while South Africa stand on the verge of creating history by securing a Test series victory in India after more than two decades.
