Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria believes that India head coach Rahul Dravid and regular captain Virat Kohli should have sent instructions to the stand-in skipper KL Rahul, especially regarding the bowling changes and bowling areas during the second Test in Johannesburg.
Kaneria’s comments came after Team India suffered a 7-wicket defeat in the second Test against South Africa on Thursday, January 6, in Johannesburg, with the hosts leveling the three-match Test series 1-1.
With the defeat, India lost the great opportunity to win their first-ever Test series in South Africa, and now they will be heading to Cape Town for the third and final Test on January 11.
Kaneria stated, after India's defeat at Wanderers, that Kohli, who was ruled out of the second Test due to back spasms, and Dravid should've assisted Rahul from the dressing room, as the batter was leading the Test side for the first time in Johannesburg.
Kaneria said on his official YouTube channel: “Team India were on the backfoot, they should have made South Africa work hard for their runs. But that did not happen, they scored the remaining runs very easily. The bowling and the bowling changes were not good. Can't criticize KL Rahul too much as he is captaining for the first time. But, the think tank of Kohli and Dravid should have sent instructions regarding the bowling changes and bowling areas.”
He added, “They should've told them to make bowling changes in short burst. All the three pacers -- Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj should've bowled in short bursts and kept the ball in the corridor. They should've packed the off-stump and bowled on that line.”
Meanwhile, the former Pakistan spinner lauded South Africa for their fight in the second Test while warning the Indian team that they can’t win the series-deciding Test if their bowling doesn't improve.
Kaneria signed off by saying, “This win will give South Africa a lot of confidence heading into the third Test. India had a good opportunity to win this Test and seal the series. But if India bowl like this it would be difficult for them to win the third Test as well. Batters will have to contribute as well.”
