New Delhi: India’s streak of nine consecutive Test series wins came to an end when South Africa hammered the Virat Kohli led side by 135 runs in the second Test in Centurion on Wednesday and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
While India’s failure in both the matches came as a surprise to many, legendary left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi isn’t among them as he felt that the number one Test side “wasted time” playing Sri Lanka at home when they should have prepared for this ongoing tour.
“There was no preparation. We wasted our time with the Sri Lankans. There was no sense in playing a weak team for one and a half month when we should be preparing for South Africa,” said Bedi, in an interaction with PTI.
“It was supposed to be a tough tour and it required intense preparation. You beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and you then call them to India, for what? The Indian cricketers would have been better off playing domestic cricket or preparing themselves exclusively for the tour.”
Also what harmed the Indian team more was that they headed into the Test series without having played a single warm-up match. But Bedi felt that it’s not the time to panic.
“India have been outplayed. It is not a cause of panic, it is a cause of concern. Bowlers have done a good job. The catching and batting has left a lot to be desired. It is a good trial by fire for this Indian team,” said the former Indian captain.
The Kohli-led Indian side would also have assignments in England and Australia scheduled to be played later this year and it would be a huge concern if they keep on performing they’ve done so far in the two Tests in South Africa.
Bedi also said that the ODI form was given more preference when it comes to getting selected in playing XI in the ongoing series. For example, Rohit Sharma, who had a terrific ODI series against Sri Lanka at home was picked ahead of Test specialist and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Sharma failed to fulfill the expectations as he could only manage 78 runs in the four innings he’s played at an average of 19.50.
Said Bedi, “It is not my job to pick the team. I can only say that vice-captain, who is part of the decision-making, is not playing. I can’t agree with that.
“Whether you like it or not, he is a human being. Rahane is not going to take this development positively. Why did you make him vice-captain if you had to drop him?
“It looks like ODI form was preferred for picking the eleven, which is not the right thing. Test matches are a different ball game and this series has proved that.”
South Africa fined for slow over rate in Centurion Test
South Africa have been handed a fine for maintaining a slow-over rate in the recently concluded second Test match against India.
Chris Broad of the Elite panel of ICC match referees found out that the Proteas were two overs short of their target number of overs when time considerations were taken into account.
Skipper Faf Du Plessis has been fined 40 per cent of his match fee while the rest of the team have been fined 20 per cent.