Has overconfident India taken South Africa lightly?
Has overconfident India taken South Africa lightly?
Marauders at home, wimps outside: this has been the case of the Indian cricket team that has started the much-awaited home season on shockingly pathetic note, throwing all hopes of a strong start to the home season into disarray. The season will end with the all-important ICC World T20 2016 — the first time India will be hosting the tournament. If recent performances are anything to go by, India’s preparations are nowhere close to what they should be. India have produced two inconsistent shows on a trot, and there are areas where some serious work is required. COMPLETE COVERAGE: India vs South Africa 2015
It will still be an understatement to say that bowling department is the biggest worry for India. Despite setting a target of 200, Indians weren’t expected to bowl out South Africa, but containment was at least anticipated. Despite crawling their way back into the contest, India failed to go past the roadblocks in form of JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien who took their team past the finish line in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) at Dharamsala. In the second, India’s overall show was so effete that there was not a single department that could be singled out.
India have underperformed. The two defeats have raised serious questions on MS Dhoni and his men. Unlike in the past, this time the cricketers were coming off a long break, were fresh physically and mentally, and did not carry any injuries. They had prepared themselves in Bengaluru at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). There is no reason in specific to determine why India have faltered.
Since the factors such as excessive cricket leading to burn out and injuries are out of context, it all comes down to how the players have approached the two games. India tried hard to put big scores, and have been successful in the first T20I. The tracks were expectedly flat and batting-friendly, and there was no other option but to rake up as many runs as possible. ALSO READ: South Africa may abandon India tour 2015: crowd behaviour at Barabati in Cuttack during 2nd T20I not the only reason
Unfortunately, in the second T20I, there was a collapse. Batting collapses are acceptable in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test cricket, but in T20Is, where an innings consists only 20 allotted overs, sides seldom get bowled out. India managed to do that.
India weren’t expected to make affairs against South Africa one-sided; the opponents have enough depth to keep fighting. Where Indians have lacked was in overall intent. Batsmen have showed they can get the runs (one must remember that scoreboard pressure carries massive impact on the flat Indian pitches).
It was the bowlers that have let them down. A few seasons ago Dhoni used to revel with his batsmen consistently putting up big totals and slow bowlers strangulating the opposition. But over years there has been a decline in standards of Indian bowling, and touring batsmen have often butchered them mercilessly in their own backyard. MUST READ: VVS Laxman says Rohit Sharma, JP Duminy have set tone for historic tour
Confidence is an important factor, but when it starts oozing out more than needed, it starts harming. It will not be exaggerating to say that every team is a favourite in its backyard these days. Despite that the opposition should never be underestimated.
This was where India have paid the price. South Africans have showed more intent than Indians: AB de Villiers opened the innings, and Duminy and Behardien have shouldered lot more responsibly. The bowling was haywire in the first T20I, but in the second they squeezed the life out of Indian batsmen, showing they are quick learners. On the other hand, India are yet to find a settled bowling attack.
South Africa deserved to clinch the T20I series, and India, despite the razzmatazz of IPL and expertise in limited-overs, deserve to see their poor home record in T20Is worsening.
(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)