Rahul Dravid has made a successful begin in his job as India coach on overseas soil.
And the victory is available in no much less a rustic than South Africa the place India registered its first Check win below Dravid’s captaincy manner again in 2006 on the Wanderers. Speaking to the media, Ok.L. Rahul dwelt on the worth of getting a legend reminiscent of Dravid as coach, the place you may be taught in regards to the artwork of cricket, drawing from his experiences.
Rahul additionally revealed Dravid introduced calmness and focus to the dressing room and made the cricketers work exhausting on the nets. Dravid’s cutting-edge professionalism – there’s a quiet ruthlessness about his strategies – and skipper Virat Kohli’s ardour for abroad victories in Check, mix nicely. There may be want, there’s starvation.
The erudite Dravid, ever the perfectionist, wouldn’t have been utterly completely happy although with the victory within the first Freedom Check. Take away Rahul’s distinctive first innings 123 and there was hardly something to decide on between the 2 sides. And we’re speaking a couple of transitional South African facet with a porous batting line-up.
READ: Bowlers down South Africa as India enjoys maiden win in Centurion
The batting collapse on the day three – India slumped from 272 for 3 to 327 all out – and the second innings capitulation [India was dismissed for 174] would have anxious Dravid.
The Wanderers might be extraordinarily seamer pleasant and the host might play 4 specialist pacemen with Duanne Olivier coming in for Keshav Maharaj. The Indian batting, with drawback areas, is certain to be severely examined.
Cheteshwar Pujara is struggling at No. 3. He has been a brave campaigner for India previously, however runs have been eluding him. He has to look once more at his ahead press, which has landed him hassle just lately. Pujara can be nicely suggested to hold again except the size calls for in any other case. Certainly, the size ought to dictate the footwork from the Indians which was not at all times the case within the first Check.
One other senior batter below scrutiny, Ajinkya Rahane, timed the ball sweetly throughout his first innings 48 however, on condition that succesful younger batters Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer are sitting out, he must convert his begins.
His second innings dismissal the place, regardless of the presence of fine-leg and a deep square-leg, he ventured right into a deadly hook was not what you’ll anticipate from a seasoned batter.
Vihari had an impressive tour of South Africa with India ‘A’ and Shreyas made Check runs towards New Zealand at residence. Skipper Kohli wants a giant rating too. His ethereal cover-drive at a large one from the spectacular debutant Marco Jansen quickly after lunch on day 4 was disappointing.
The ill-advised stroke led to his downfall. It was a case of poor batting.
Kohli has to re-look at his footwork and steadiness. He must dig in, ‘go away’ deliveries, be circumspect round off-stump. The Indian captain led capably however his workforce wants runs from him. The colourful Indian tempo bowling would have, nonetheless, happy Dravid. None greater than Mohammed Shami, on the peak of his powers.
Shami has among the many greatest seam positions in world cricket. The seam stays upright and the batters do not at all times know which manner the ball would deviate. Whilst they’re in two minds, Shami strikes. What a champion!