Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan showered praise on South Africa after Temba Bavuma’s team stunned India in the opening Test match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday. India was bundled out for only 93 runs in the second innings of the first Test in the run-chase of 124.
Simon Harmer was the pick of the bowlers as the off-spinner returned with impressive figures of 4-21. Furthermore, the off-spinner bagged 4-30 in the first innings at Kolkata.
Moreover, South African captain Temba Bavuma played a match-winning knock of 55 runs in the second innings. Marco Jansen also scalped five wickets in the match to play a key role in the team’s win.
Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “The first Test between India and South Africa lasted only three days, three days wasn’t even done. There will be conversations about the pitch but we have to accept that Temba Bavuma’s team played some outstanding cricket and they deserve a salute. There is no doubt about it. South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma played a sensational and unbeaten knock, displayed a brilliant defensive and sweeping technique. He showed technique on a pitch where there is uneven bounce and showcased immense control.”
Pathan praised South African captain Temba Bavuma for his solid batting and captaincy.
“In four innings where Indian batters are there too, only one player scored a half-century and it was by an overseas player on this pitch. Temba Bavuma, absolutely wonderful batting. He deserves all the praise, his captaincy is brilliant, runs the team well and revamped the entire team. Bavuma has also elevated his batting well.”
Pathan, who came up with a man-of-the-match performance in the 2007 T20 World Cup, said India needed a slightly aggressive approach in the run chase of 124.
“The way India was batting, they needed to convert their approach to aggression. According to my first-class, Test match experience and having played on turning tracks too, at least two batters out of top seven must look to keep scoring when chasing 120-130 in the fourth innings. Bowlers need to be repeatedly put under pressure because all it takes is two partnerships to finish the game. Axar Patel’s approach was there to be seen, he hit a six and a four in the same over and reached 26. But if at least two other batters had the same approach, the game would have been finished. It’s not necessary to hit aerial shots all the time, the game needs to keep moving. The batters must keep their hands loose and play with their wrists. Our skill level of playing spinners – playing with soft hands and using wrists – has come down.”
India and South Africa will take on each other in the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, from Saturday onwards.
