SA vs IND 2018: Unfair to judge batsmen on this track, says Sourav Ganguly

India were bowled for 187 on Day one of the Johannesburg Test.

Sourav Ganguly | Getty Images

Virat Kohli –led Indian Cricket Team once again on Wednesday failed to counter the five-man pace pack on Day 1 of the final Test of Freedom Series at the New Wanderers Stadium, in Johannesburg, as the No.1 ranked Test team was bundled out at 187 in 76.4 overs against South Africa.

Former Indian skipper –Sourav Ganguly felt that the Johannesburg wicket was unfair on the batsmen and has also urged ICC to look into the matter.

He wrote on his official Twitter Handle, “To play test cricket on this surface is unfair ...saw it in NZ in 2003 ...batsman have minimum chance ...ICC should look into it,”

Barring skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, the other batsmen had scores of 8, 0, 9, 2, and 0 in Johannesburg. It was a no-brainer that the pitch and weather conditions were ridiculously bowler-friendly.

However, the bowlers failed to dismiss India before the lunch, but they so succeeded in straggling Men in Blue at the incredible pace friendly Johannesburg wicket.

Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara | AP

On the opening day of the Johannesburg Test, a total of 11 wickets fell which was quite a surprise for everyone, although, Kohli’s extraordinary batting frustrated Proteas bowlers while he rode his luck during his knock. Despite Kohli and Pujara's defiant knock, South Africa was on top on  Day 1, as Kagiso Rabada took 3-wickets, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Andile Phehlukwayo picking 2-each.

In Johannesburg where the ball swings and seams quite a bit,  it could be the perfect conditions to come back for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah on the second day of the final Test.

South Africa finished the first day on 6 runs from 5 overs for the loss of one wicket trailing India by 180 runs. It is upto the Indian bowlers now to make inroads into the South African batting line up and make run-scoring tough for them. 

 

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 25 Jan, 2018

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