Ravi Shastri highlights Team India’s shortcomings in the first Test matchup with South Africa.

At the current Boxing Day Test between South Africa and India at Centurion, they are fully in charge. When Day 2 came to an end, they had already dismissed the visiting side for 245 runs, and Dean Elgar’s outstanding century had given them an 11-run advantage. The Temba Bavuma-led team will look to finish the job and seize the lead in the two-match series in spite of the Indian bowlers’ lack of success thus far with the ball. Regarding India’s ball-handling strategies, former head coach Ravi Shastri said that the team management made a mistake that proved to be costly.

 Ravi Shastri claimed that it was an error on Rohit Sharma’s part to include Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna in the attack following lunch on Day 2.

Because India let up too many runs in that phase, which allowed the Proteas to gain momentum, he wanted Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah to begin immediately after the interval.

Shadul and Prasidh would have been the last to begin the proceedings (after lunch, according to any pecking order). During my tenure as coach, we had numerous conversations about that. And at the beginning of the session, we often chose to start with the two best bowlers. India would believe that they have missed a huge trick in the first thirty minutes of play if you turn your thoughts back. During Star Sports commentary, Ravi Shastri stated, “Two bowlers they started with were a big mistake tactically.”

India missed this opportunity window: Vernon Philander

Vernon Philander, a former international for South Africa, concurs that India squandered a crucial opportunity after lunch. He said that Bumrah was likely hoping for a break from the team management, which, in his opinion, provided South Africa with much-needed impetus.

Maybe after his 6-over bowling spell (before lunch), they wanted to keep him (Bumrah). India, in my opinion, missed this window of opportunity. After lunch, South Africa gained the upper hand as India conceded 42 runs. Philander stated, “They missed a chance.