IND vs SA: Dinesh Karthik Expects India To Put Up A ‘Very Strong Performance’ In 2nd Test
Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik emphasized Team India’s resilience in overcoming challenging situations. While acknowledging India’s recent batting collapse in the recent Test, Dinesh Karthik anticipates a strong comeback in the next match in South Africa.
India experienced a significant setback in the Centurion Test against South Africa, enduring an innings and 32-run defeat within three days. The Indian team were dismissed for a mere 131 runs in the second innings. They managed to score only 245 runs in their first innings.
South Africa posted a formidable total of 408 runs in their lone innings during the recent Test match. Veteran opener Dean Elgar, in his final Test series, scored 185 runs, including 28 boundaries. Marco Jansen remained unbeaten with 84 runs off 147 deliveries.
Things Were Always Going To Be Hard For Us – Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik voiced concern about India’s challenges in attaining scores below par, attributing it to a lack of belief. He noted the significance of maintaining a positive attitude and employing strategic play in challenging conditions to achieve success.
“The one thing Team India have done well over a period of time is bounced back from it. That’s what I expect from this Indian team to put up a very strong performance in the next Test. But it will be a worry that India at times is crumbling for a score, which is way below par. They are a proper batting unit; they have a lot of talent and skill,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.
“What was lacking today was probably a bit of belief and a bit of application. We were behind the game the moment they got ahead of us. Things were always going to be hard for us. That’s where a good attitude about what you want to do around how you need to be playing in these conditions should come through; today it didn’t, which is one of those days when nothing worked for India.”
It Was A Master Class Of Bowling – Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik credited South African bowlers, especially Nandre Burger, for their masterful display on a bowling-friendly pitch. Karthik characterized the loss as one of those occasions when nothing appeared to work for the India team.
“But also give a lot of credit to how well Nandre Burger bowled. He used the angle of coming around the wicket and kept it at the stumps. The oddball straightened, got a couple of full ones to get Shreyas and Shubman. Both Nandre Burger and Marco Jansen and through all of that, we had Rabada, just making sure that he gave nothing away. It was a master class of bowling on a seaming pitch from South Africa,” Karthik said.
Nandre Burger made a significant impact by dismissing key Indian batters, including Yashavi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, in the first innings. Burger provided excellent support to Kagiso Rabada in the bowling department, taking seven wickets in the match.
Skipper Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the second Test due to a hamstring injury sustained while fielding. Bavuma did not bat in the first and only innings for South Africa. Dean Elgar will assume the leadership role for the team in the second and final Test.
Also read: IND vs SA: “Shardul Thakur And Prasidh Krishna Definitely Need To Up Their Game” – Dinesh Karthik
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