Rahul, in the absence of Virat Kohli, who was unable to play due to a spasm in his upper back, led India in the second Test.
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South Africa captain Dean Elgar hit an unbeaten 96 to lead the Proteas to a seven-wicket triumph over India in the second Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, bringing the series to a halt. KL Rahul, in the absence of Virat Kohli, who was unable to play due to a spasm in his upper back, led India in the second Test. While several of Rahul’s captaincy decisions drew criticism from experts, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria stated the 29-year-old cannot be faulted for the defeat because it was his first time leading the Test team. On Day 4 of the recently finished second Test, Kaneria believes Kohli and head coach Rahul Dravid should have assisted Rahul from the dressing room.
“Team India were on the backfoot, but they should have made South Africa work hard for their runs. That did not happen, and they scored the remaining runs very easily. The bowling and the bowling changes weren’t good. Can’t criticise KL Rahul too much as he was captaining for the first time. But, the think tank of Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid should have sent instructions regarding the bowling changes,” Kaneria said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.
The Indian think tank should have urged the pacers to bowl in short bursts, according to the 41-year-old, who also claimed that Ravichandran Ashwin was not utilised on time and was only inserted when there were only a few runs left.
“They should’ve asked the pacers — Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj — to bowl in short bursts. Ashwin was not used (on time); Only 11 runs were remaining when Ashwin was used. Shami and Bumrah leaked too many runs. The same was the case with Siraj. Test cricket is all about patience,” he added.
Kaneria also lauded the South African team’s effort, but predicted that India would struggle to recover in the third and final Test. The series will be decided in the third and final Test, which will be held at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town from January 11 to 15.
