India vs South Africa | 1st Test | Mohali | 5th-9th November | Match Thread | India won by 108 runs

[IndianWillow]

We need to get runs and BAT TIME to let the pitch go tough.

May not be a great strategy on this pitch. We don't have the kind of players who can dig in and bat for an entire day on this pitch. Except Vijay perhaps. Get 250+ and see the Saffers crumble due to pressure.

 

[Pantani]

A pair for Dhawan. India should drop him, get KL Rahul in. Dhawan gets too long a rope just because he can allegedly score runs quickly. Well he's not scoring at all at the moment, slow or fast. Might as well dump him.

 

[BaaliSoda]

Dhawan exposed. Throw him out and bring Rahul.

He will either get a duck or 100.

Which is another problem but better than Dhawan.

He is also a serial dropper of catches (complementing Dhawan in that aspect), don't forget that

 

[Amjid Javed]

200 lead here for India and they will win the match on the moon dust pitch.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

May not be a great strategy on this pitch. We don't have the kind of players who can dig in and bat for an entire day on this pitch. Except Vijay perhaps. Get 250+ and see the Saffers crumble due to pressure.

I didn't say we have to consciously bat slow.

Just bat long enough.

If we get out to 150 today, we WILL lose the game.

We need 200 (even that's risky because Saffers will come to bat faster). 250 is safer.

 

[BaaliSoda]

Get in Rohit for the next match.

I would do the same if I could.

 

[BaaliSoda]

Agree with [MENTION=50394]IndianWillow[/MENTION], a score of 250 is what India should aim for and if possible make some changes in the batting order (if necessary) to achieve that target.

 

[adnan yasin]

Its good to see philander bending his back on this wicket

 

[adnan yasin]

Why dale steyn is not on the field? any idea?

 

[BaaliSoda]

Why dale steyn is not on the field? any idea?

Strained groin (?)

 

[adnan yasin]

Wild card entry should be introduce soon . Mr Elgar

 

[Justcrazy]

India will win , mark my words, SA will struggle to chase 150

 

[BaaliSoda]

Jaddu should be promoted up to counter Elgar.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

India will win , mark my words, SA will struggle to chase 150

Have to agree, can't see us taking this one.

 

[BaaliSoda]

Pujara struggling big time there against pace (Philander) and now spin (elgar)

 

[adnan yasin]

Did South Africa expect a dead pitch thats why they played with 6 specialist batsman with philander at 7

 

[BaaliSoda]

Philander is bowling at the right line/length for this track. Looks threatening to take wicket with each delivery.

Both Umesh and Aaron should watch and learn from this.

 

[ChachaCricket]

Did South Africa expect a dead pitch thats why they played with 6 specialist batsman with philander at 7

They weren't expecting Elgar to run through India.

 

[#GreenRoars]

Dhawan again failed, probably he won't be in next match.

 

[Sidilicious]

Dhawan again failed, probably he won't be in next match.

Kohli and his love for Sharmas might mean that Pujara open again, with monsieur Sharma at 6.

That would be wrong move though. Should go with Rahul instead of Dhawan (though I am ok with Dhawan being given another test)

 

[adnan yasin]

Mr Elgar need to crack some wickets now

 

[adnan yasin]

They weren't expecting Elgar to run through India.

Actually that was not my question

 

[jabarjabar]

India need to get in Rohit for the next match and open with him. Seriously. On Indian pitches he could turn into a new Sehwag or at the very least a grafter who can smash now and then.

 

[Indiafan]

At this rate this game will be over by tea tommorrow. A complete farce really.

The same guys who say they love low scoring matches, that there should be more pitches which favor bowlers rather than flat pattas are whining now because India is on top?

 

[Slog]

Strained groin (?)

If that's the case he could be out for next 2 matches minimum

Damn. Things falling apart for Saffers

 

[BaaliSoda]

If that's the case he could be out for next 2 matches minimum

Damn. Things falling apart for Saffers

He looked cheerful for the camera just before the tea break. May be it's not serious, he might come back and bowl later on.

 

[ChachaCricket]

Actually that was not my question

Probably went with 5 bowlers because they didn't feel confident of the bowling attack taking 20 in these conditions.

 

[battler]

Kohli and his love for Sharmas might mean that Pujara open again, with monsieur Sharma at 6.

That would be wrong move though. Should go with Rahul instead of Dhawan (though I am ok with Dhawan being given another test)

On Indian pitches Rohit is a superior batsmen to Rahul.

 

[Sidilicious]

On Indian pitches Rohit is a superior batsmen to Rahul.

On flatter pitches may be. But on flatter wickets Dhawan is excellent.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Rohit as opener is insane guys.

INSANE.

You have no idea what flop he will be.

Go with Lokesh or make Pujara open.

 

[Sidilicious]

Does the pitch look flatter today?

 

[jabarjabar]

Rohit as opener is insane guys.

INSANE.

You have no idea what flop he will be.

Go with Lokesh or make Pujara open.

Rohit could end up scoring a 400. You never know.

I've seen you underrate him as an opener even before his ODI place became permanent.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I didn't say we have to consciously bat slow.

Just bat long enough.

If we get out to 150 today, we WILL lose the game.

We need 200 (even that's risky because Saffers will come to bat faster). 250 is safer.

Yup yup yup.

150 and we will lose.

200 its a maybe case.

250 and we are favourites.

300 and we will close the deal for sure.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Where is the South African guy calling this match a farce? Why South Africa picking no wickets now?

 

[Smbhayi]

Pretty good catch from rahane

Proving to be one of the solid slip catcher for us (there aren't many) in the last few decades

decades? There are Azhar Dravid etc in past decades. .

 

[Sidilicious]

Rohit could end up scoring a 400. You never know.

I've seen you underrate him as an opener even before his ODI place became permanent.

Difference in ODIs and Tests mate. And lets not bring Sehwag into this. Both had different games.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Rohit could end up scoring a 400. You never know.

I've seen you underrate him as an opener even before his ODI place became permanent.

Yes...I did and I don't deny it.

But tests are different.

Dhawan has scored in ODIs too but see his level in tests.

Scoring 400 is not the goal for opener. Giving solid base is.

400 followed by nine innings of 20 is 580 runs in 10 innings = 58 average.

But it will make your team LOSE a lot of games.

 

[JaDed]

Rohit could end up scoring a 400. You never know.

I've seen you underrate him as an opener even before his ODI place became permanent.

Rohit's defensive technique on any pitch which is not flat is shabby as hell.

 

[BaaliSoda]

400 followed by nine innings of 20 is 580 runs in 10 innings = 58 average.

But it will make your team LOSE a lot of games.

If this is the scenario, then Rahul's case is even more weaker as a opener. He scores a hundred (or barely passing 100) followed by series of single digit scores. Not to mention his ability to drop sitters at various positions in the field.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

If this is the scenario, then Rahul's case is even more weaker. He scores a hundred (or barely passing 100) followed by series of single digit scores. Not to mention his ability to drop sitters at various position in the field.

Yes...but he has the tools to improve.

His problem is nervousness. Soon he will get over it and feel he belongs here and score.

Its things like these where you have to look beyond stats. If Rahul is unable to overcome his nervousness, then he will be rightfully discarded.

But a non nervous Rahul is damn good.

Plus alternating between 100 and 0 will win you more games than 400 and 20.

 

[Abhilash93]

Rohit could end up scoring a 400. You never know.

I've seen you underrate him as an opener even before his ODI place became permanent.

Rohit would be a walking wicket on this pitch. May hit a few boundaries & then depart.

 

[jabarjabar]

Yes...I did and I don't deny it.

But tests are different.

Dhawan has scored in ODIs too but see his level in tests.

Scoring 400 is not the goal for opener. Giving solid base is.

400 followed by nine innings of 20 is 580 runs in 10 innings = 58 average.

But it will make your team LOSE a lot of games.

Has he ever opened in Tests? No. So might as well give him a chance.

Hacks like Rayudu and Binny get opportunities, so you might as well offer a chance to your most prolific recent run getter.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Has he ever opened in Tests? No. So might as well give him a chance.

Hacks like Rayudu and Binny get opportunities, so you might as well offer a chance to your most prolific recent run getter.

ODI opportunities is different from tests.

Has he opened in Tests is not a way to look at it.

Even Saha hasn't opened in tests. Doesn't mean there is a legit claim for him to open.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

We shouldn't think of a target as such. Should just bat and bat as much as possible right into 3rd session of 4th day. Grinf their bowlers to dust and demoralise them for the rest of the series.

 

[jabarjabar]

Yes...I did and I don't deny it.

But tests are different.

Dhawan has scored in ODIs too but see his level in tests.

Scoring 400 is not the goal for opener. Giving solid base is.

400 followed by nine innings of 20 is 580 runs in 10 innings = 58 average.

But it will make your team LOSE a lot of games.

Dumb logic. Defining the role of a position is very dangerous. Players define or redefine the positions.

Was Sehwag there to 'give you a solid base'? No.

Maybe Rohit can find his own tempo.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

We shouldn't think of a target as such. Should just bat and bat as much as possible right into 3rd session of 4th day. Grinf their bowlers to dust and demoralise them for the rest of the series.

We should learn a thing or two from Pakistan.

Bat and bat and destroy their soul.

Not possible to bat very very long in this pitch but possible to score 250-300 if you apply. Maybe even more.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Dumb logic. Defining the role of a position is very dangerous. Players define or redefine the positions.

Was Sehwag there to 'give you a solid base'? No.

Maybe Rohit can find his own tempo.

Sehwag had a greater hand eye coordination than Rohit.

His technique is not as loose as Rohit.

Sehwag was a special case.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

We should learn a thing or two from Pakistan.

Bat and bat and destroy their soul.

Not possible to bat very very long in this pitch but possible to score 250-300 if you apply. Maybe even more.

Exactly. Pakistan do this brilliantly. Absolute soul crushing batting by the likes of Misbah by blocking and putting away bad balls of seamers and attacking spinners. You can dictate terms and bring opposition bowling to their knees with such tactics.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Exactly. Pakistan do this brilliantly. Absolute soul crushing batting by the likes of Misbah by blocking and putting away bad balls of seamers and attacking spinners. You can dictate terms and bring opposition bowling to their knees with such tactics.

Its super effective in destroying morale.

We are nowhere close to safety mark. These 2 should keep going on as if they are batting for their lives.

 

[Sidilicious]

We shouldn't think of a target as such. Should just bat and bat as much as possible right into 3rd session of 4th day. Grinf their bowlers to dust and demoralise them for the rest of the series.

Batting till session 3 on day 4 might be asking too much. If we are still batting by the end of day 4, that would be fairly demoralising for SA.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Its super effective in destroying morale.

We are nowhere close to safety mark. These 2 should keep going on as if they are batting for their lives.

Yep. Psychologically very damaging especially on a long 4 test tour. These two should bat safely till end of the day and start afresh tomorrow. Shut up shop for good this session.

 

[Sidilicious]

Batting till session 3 on day 4 might be asking too much. If we are still batting by the end of day 4, that would be fairly demoralising for SA.

I meant end of day 3

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I meant end of day 3

Yeah but if we can bat on then we should. The longer SA have to be on the field, the better.

 

[zabalestmsm]

Amla must not get carried away by Elgar's one off performance in the first innings. Bring in Imran Tahir instead.

 

[Indiafan]

Kohli and his love for Sharmas might mean that Pujara open again, with monsieur Sharma at 6.

That would be wrong move though. Should go with Rahul instead of Dhawan (though I am ok with Dhawan being given another test)

To be fair, I do not think Kohli has been biased at all. He likes aggressive players both in batting and bowling. However when he saw Rohit and Pujara's performance, he has chosen Pujara this time. He seems to be a quick learner and I don't think he is biased

 

[jabarjabar]

Sehwag had a greater hand eye coordination than Rohit.

His technique is not as loose as Rohit.

Sehwag was a special case.

That wasn't my point. I'm not saying Rohit is Sehwag. I said he could be Sehwag-esque in terms of big scores.

How he does it, whether he does it at all is up to him. He must find his own Test match character.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I meant end of day 3

BEst way to demoralize is to rack up 400.

But that may be asking too much.

Fro,m Mumbai 2012, if this is a dangerous pitch, then here's how its going to play out.

We need to end today well.

Tomorrow first session, its LIKELY to be easier than other sessions. We have to play properly and keep the scoreboard ticking.

There will come a point when the pitch ABSOLUTELY crashes and it starts turning viciously and wickets are round the corner. We must be prepared for that and our set batsmen should keep playing and if anyone gets out, the other person can start slogging. We will have to review our strategy accordingly at that time. So by the 3/4th of tomorrow, we should be gone and insert SA in dangerous conditioons where the new ball will start off easy but it will get tough rapidly.

This is assuming the pitch goes treacherous completely and not in certain areas.

If it doesn't, we just need to keep batting on and on and on and set a nice target and insert Saffers in.

Right now, the goal is to end today well.

 

[BaaliSoda]

Totally agree with this comment from Cricinfo

"Have not seen more assured batsman off late the Murali Vijay in the Indian line up! Seems comfortable against swing, pace, bounce and spin. He probably has filled the shoes of Dravid than Pujara"

 

[Watsupdoc]

Sanjay Manjerekar is officially worse than Rameez as a commentator.

He's just talking rubbish now.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

That wasn't my point. I'm not saying Rohit is Sehwag. I said he could be Sehwag-esque in terms of big scores.

How he does it, whether he does it at all is up to him. He must find his own Test match character.

Unlikely if you watch his batting till now in tests.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Sanjay Manjerekar is officially worse than Rameez as a commentator.

He's just talking rubbish now.

He's a joker.

Joker who is sensible at times.

What is he saying?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

On flatter pitches may be. But on flatter wickets Dhawan is excellent.

Rohit is a better player of spin than Dhawan I think.

 

[Watsupdoc]

He's a joker.

Joker who is sensible at times.

What is he saying?

Played on is a more common dismissal in modern day cricket than clean bowled, so bowlers should bowl outside of and get the batsman cover driving so that they get an inside edge

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Played on is a more common dismissal in modern day cricket than clean bowled, so bowlers should bowl outside of and get the batsman cover driving so that they get an inside edge

If bowlers get some shape in, bowling in the channel can get some nicks or in rare cases...inside edge bowled.

 

[BaaliSoda]

Sanjay Manjerekar is officially worse than Rameez as a commentator.

He's just talking rubbish now.

This whole set of star commentary team is such bore that muting the audio feed is no more an option but mandatory for watching the game (in my case)

 

[Watsupdoc]

If bowlers get some shape in, bowling in the channel can get some nicks or in rare cases...inside edge bowled.

Yes I get the logic but no bowler can aim for a played on dismissal.

And secondly it's not a common mode of dismissal in modern day cricket as he is putting it.

 

[Watsupdoc]

This whole set of star commentary team is such bore that muting the audio feed is no more an option but mandatory for watching the game (in my case)

Yup definitely. I think the english commits are the best (barring Botham).

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Yes I get the logic but no bowler can aim for a played on dismissal.

And secondly it's not a common mode of dismissal in modern day cricket as he is putting it.

I was making a general comment.

Manju can say the weirdest things at times.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

This whole set of star commentary team is such bore that muting the audio feed is no more an option but mandatory for watching the game (in my case)

Are you currently based in Vellore, thala?

College kid?

 

[Sidilicious]

Enjoying Tahir's bowling. Mixing his leg breaks well with the googlies

 

[BaaliSoda]

Are you currently based in Vellore, thala?

College kid?

Yep to Vellore and College but no Kid (nearing mid 30s, kinda late actor Murali who used to act in college student roles till his 40s)

A VIT alumnus, pursuing my PhD also from the same institute.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Yep to Vellore and College but no Kid (nearing mid 30s, kinda late actor Murali who used to act in college student roles till his 40s)

A VIT alumnus, pursuing my PhD also from the same institute.

I am also from VIT.

Did Electrical Engg there.

So you took a break from your career to ursue PHD or you teach there plus pursue PHD?

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Enjoying Tahir's bowling. Mixing his leg breaks well with the googlies

How are all the spinners? Can you explain in 1 line for Harmer, Elgar and Tahir?

Not currently watching the game.

They getting turn (slow turn or sharp turn) and how we playing?

 

[Sidilicious]

Enjoying Tahir's bowling. Mixing his leg breaks well with the googlies

He does bowl a poor delivery every over. Take that out, and he would be pretty decent test bowler

 

[Sidilicious]

How are all the spinners? Can you explain in 1 line for Harmer, Elgar and Tahir?

Not currently watching the game.

They getting turn (slow turn or sharp turn) and how we playing?

Tahir - Doing well as he mixes up leg break and gogglies. But not at all consistent, so is beating the bat once an over, but is also giving runs away

Elgar - Very average. Not at all threatening

Harmer - Saw only one over, but wasn't that much

Rabada - Been excellent. Tight bowling. Not causing a lot of trouble, but is always in the channel.

 

[battler]

vijay

 

[BaaliSoda]

I am also from VIT.

Did Electrical Engg there.

Wow! So nice to know that

I am a native of Vellore but did my Bachelors from Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune. I came to VIT only in the year 2010 (after working in 3 different industries over 7 years prior to that). It was for pursuing MBA, post MBA joined PhD while doubling as a Research Associate (which is basically a teaching assistant).

Edit: oh No! Vijay gone

 

[Abhilash93]

How are all the spinners? Can you explain in 1 line for Harmer, Elgar and Tahir?

Not currently watching the game.

They getting turn (slow turn or sharp turn) and how we playing?

Its still spinning, a few of them sharply, Tahir is ripping the leg breaks & googlies. Vijay & Pujara have played spin well & reading Tahir easily. Pujara is using his feet well.

Harmer is a little consistent with his line & length & Elgar was smashed everytime he came on. So, wasnt given bigger spells.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Damn it damn it damn it

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Tahir - Doing well as he mixes up leg break and gogglies. But not at all consistent, so is beating the bat once an over, but is also giving runs away

Elgar - Very average. Not at all threatening

Harmer - Saw only one over, but wasn't that much

Rabada - Been excellent. Tight bowling. Not causing a lot of trouble, but is always in the channel.

Its still spinning, a few of them sharply, Tahir is ripping the leg breaks & googlies. Vijay & Pujara have played spin well & reading Tahir easily. Pujara is using his feet quite well.

Harmer is a little consistent with his line & length & Elgar was smashed everytime he came on. So, wasnt given bigger spells.

Thanks a ton guys.