This "ruthless winning machine" lost to a weak South African team. You know Smith's team was monstrous and well praised for their efforts by just about everyone. When last did you see a blockathon? I quite miss them.
India is on course to winning 31 out of 51 Tests under Kohli’s (permanent) captaincy, and they have only lost 1 Test at home since England’s series win 2012. That is brilliant and if they are a not a ruthless winning machine, who are?
I won’t call a South African side with de Villiers, Amla, Faf, QdK, Philander, Morkel, Rabada and Ngidi as weak. Yes some of the players were past their primes but it was still a very strong team especially in home conditions. Losing 2-1 to them especially on pitches that were heavily geared towards teams batting first is not something to be ashamed of. Great teams of the past have lost to weaker sides.
It is abundantly clear that no Asian Test side of the past holds a candle to this Indian side. What makes them special is that they have tremendously improved their bowling attack without compromising on their batting.
It is also abundantly clear that people are simply not prepared to give them due credit.
- Had they won in South Africa, people would be dismissive that it came against an aging side and how Smith’s South Africa would have whitewashed them.
- Had they won in England people would be dismissive that it came against a weak England team full of white ball specialists.
- Had they lost in Australia, people would mock them that they couldn’t even without Smith and Warner.
- If they were to lose a Test in India for a change, people would mock them for not winning on the so-called designers pitches at home, but for some reason, the pitches in South Africa in 2018 were somehow fair, where every single wicket fell for the first time in history.
This is an incredible team and they do not have to win every match home and away to prove it. The fact that there are far ahead of every other team today is enough proof. No team can touch India in India but they can win in plenty of countries.