Former India cricketer Atul Wassan has expressed his disappointment over the Indian cricket team’s defeat against South Africa in the recent three-match Test series, saying he didn’t expect "this kind of a fightback" from the hosts in the series.
India won the first Test by 113 runs, but then they were defeated by 7 wickets in the second and third Tests, losing the series 1-2. On Friday, January 14, South Africa clinched the three-match series against India at Newlands in Cape Town.
Wassan told ANI: “Definitely this team is not what we have seen before. I am disappointed not shocked as these things happen in cricket but I was not expecting this kind of a fightback. It is a good sign for South African cricket because somewhat they were falling off the map. There were England, Australia and India dominating. A good South African team will work very well for Indian cricket. Having not won the series and lost the series is disheartening but lessons to be learned.”
He added, “I think Rahul Dravid has been where we were in the series after leading 1-0. They have done that before also but yes this is the weakest side but in hindsight, you can see the way their batsmen played especially Petersen and Bavuma and Van der Dussen. So, they have played very well. It shows that they have got the potential and beating a side like India will help them do better overseas also.”
The former cricketer also believes that Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara may not get more chances in the future following their constant failures with the bat.
Wassan said, “I think the ship has sailed for Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara because they are not doing enough. An odd 40 and an odd 50 will not work for them, it is not expected. Our batsmen have lost us the series this time. They have not given bowlers enough runs to defend 20 wickets.”
He signed off by saying, “We saw the wickets becoming easier as the game progressed and we saw these guys score runs. So it was identical of what happened in the last two Test matches. So the blame lies with Pujara and Rahane. Indian team has invested a lot on them and we wanted them to feel counted and they did not make it count.”
(With ANI Inputs)
