Sunday, May 10
Ravi Shastri has strongly criticized India's batting approach and selection strategy in the second Test against South Africa. He questioned the decision to promote Washington Sundar to number three in the previous Test and then drop him to number eight in the current match, highlighting a lack of clarity in the team's planning.
Anil Kumble slammed India's poor batting, citing a lack of application and patience against South Africa's bowlers, particularly Marco Jansen. Meanwhile, Dale Steyn lauded the Proteas' dominant performance, highlighting their strategic decisions and execution over three days. South Africa extended their lead significantly, aiming to secure a historic series win.
Suresh Raina defended head coach Gautam Gambhir amidst India's Test struggles, emphasizing player accountability. He highlighted Gambhir's success in white-ball formats and stressed that coaches guide, while players must perform. Raina also advocated for domestic performance to influence selection, anticipating a stronger ODI squad with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's return for the South Africa series.
South Africa declared their second innings at 260 for 5, setting India a daunting target of 549 runs. Tristan Stubbs' 94 and Tony de Zorzi's 49 anchored the innings after early wickets. This massive target represents the highest by a visiting team in India, posing a significant challenge for the hosts.
