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Former India captain Gavaskar questioned India’s strategy which cost visitors the match. While doing the match commentary he said that India’s strategy was average. Looks like the Indian team has already given up.
Post lunch, Virat Kohli did not bowl Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah but Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav were handed the task of bowling and it was hard for Gavaskar to comprehend this strategy.
"It was a mystery to me why Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah did not bowl after Lunch. It was almost as if India had decided that they are not going to win this," Gavaskar said.
Along with this, Gavaskar also raised questions about India’s fielding position. Gavaskar said that when Ashwin was bowling, he had sent more and more players to the boundary than Kohli.
"The field placements there were for Ashwin (was not right)... There were singles available easily. Five fielders were in the deep. Let the batters take a chance that is your only opportunity to get them out," said the former India captain," Gavaskar added.
However, Gavaskar praised the South African batsmen and said that they batted brilliantly against the Indian bowlers. This was the second time in a row that they left no stone unturned in chasing a score of over 200 in the fourth innings.
"The pitches weren't the best for batting but the application shown by the South Africans in Johannesburg, the application shown by them in this Test as well has been praiseworthy. That showed the character of the team," he said.
The target of 212 wasn't a tough ask for South Africa and resuming the Day 4 at 101 for the loss of two wickets, young pretender Keegan Petersen (82 off113 balls) along with Rassie van Der Dussen (41 not out) added 54 runs for the third wicket to seal the match before Temba Bavuma (32 not out) helped in putting the final touches.
