Usually the Indian team never enjoys tours of South Africa. Rainbow Nation’s pitches are bouncy, full of speed, seam and swing. It’s a complete mismatch for someone who grew up in a Mumbai maiden. Time and again, the South Africa star has brought nightmares to the Indian batsmen, who are pampered and loved by their fans. Over the years, this tour has hurt the ego of many and tarnished the reputation of the Indian team. Unlike Australia, England, where the Indian team has shown a resurgence in recent years, South Africa remains a ‘tough assignment’ though not quite as dire as New Zealand, where India last won a Test match in 2009. When India toured under Kohli in 2018, they managed to beat the hosts in the Joburg Test, but only after losing the series. We take a look at India’s past five South African tours devoid of inspiration; Still, not short on individual talent.
India tour of South Africa (2001/02): It was a new team, it had a new captain and it was a new millennium; Still, India’s performance in South Africa remained the same. And yet, it was different. This Indian team had a brilliant four and was about to find a new partner in the form of Virender Sehwag, who scored a century (105) in his first Test at Bloemfontein. Batting at number six, he along with his idol Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 155, helped India post 379 in the first innings. However, Shaun Pollock was just too good as he took ten wickets in the match. His six in the second innings ensured India posted just 237, which was not enough after the hosts posted 563 runs riding on centuries from Herschelle Gibbs and Lance Klusener. South Africa scored the winning run with nine wickets remaining. As the caravan moved into Port Elizabeth, India managed to hold on to a draw. The game ended in silence, but the next few weeks were stormy for the Indian team as five of its players were punished for ball tampering and excessive appeal. BCCI demanded that ICC match referee Mike Dennis be removed. The stalemate persisted and both teams played an unofficial Test match at Centurion where the visitors were beaten by an innings and 73 runs. (Series 1-0 for South Africa)
India tour of South Africa (2006/07): The tour came on the back of the Ganguly-Chapel saga that polarized Indian cricket. Dada would have been forgotten if he had not sowed the seeds of a comeback in the first Test in Johannesburg, which India managed to win. He shared a 44-run partnership with India’s number eleven VRV Singh for the last wicket. Later, Sreesanth opened his heart and dismissed South Africa for 84 runs. India really never looked back from there and won the match by 123 runs. But then all this ruckus proved to be a distraction from their first win, and they lost the next two games in Durban and Cape Town to surrender the initiative. (Series 2-1 for South Africa)
India tour of South Africa (2010/11): India lost the first test match in Durban and everyone felt that the tour was heading towards a whitewash. However, they were wrong. However it certainly looked like it was when Dale Steyn hit a six as India were bundled out for 205. However, India’s bowling as a unit at Kingsmead, Durban found figures of 3/36 with spearhead Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh also eliminated. With figures of 4/10, South Africa were bowled out for 131. India paid the hosts in the second essay thanks to VVS Laxman (96) as they set a target of 303. Zaheer was on the money again, so was Sreesanth. The ball he bowled to Jacques Kallis is still a hit among Indian fans. In the end, India managed to secure a historic win by 87 runs and leveled the series. For the first time ever, they remained a dominant side going into a series decider, however, they chose to play it safe in Cape Town. Although it was a standoff, it will be remembered for the centuries of two of the best batsmen of modern times. Jacques Kallis scored centuries in both the innings (161, 109) while Sachin Tendulkar scored 146 runs. (Chain 1-1 drawn)
South Africa tour of India (2013): Virat Kohli was a rising star at that time but he was yet to prove himself in overseas conditions. After 2013, his opponents finally started taking him seriously. An early glimpse of the vintage Kohli was on display in the first Test in Johannesburg as he smashed 119 for India to 280. In reply, veteran Zaheer Khan hit a boundary as South Africa fell short in the first innings. The visitors attacked the opposition as Kohli was again between the runs (96). He played the second foil against Cheteshwar Pujara (153) as India posted a mammoth total of 421. However, the visitors lacked the sucker punch and they ultimately failed to bowl out South Africa despite keeping them on the mat. MS Dhoni and his men abandoned the initiative and lost in the second Test in Durban. The visitors never really recovered from Dale Steyn’s attack (6/100), apart from a classy century from AB de Villiers and India always playing catch-up. (Series 1-0 for South Africa)
South Africa tour of India (2017/18): It was here four years ago that Virat’s New India came to the fore in a dead rubber in Johannesburg. It was a tough pitch to bat on. The pace, full of bounce, is literally a nightmare for the sub-continental batsmen. But India did not lose heart despite losing the first two test matches by some margin. He scored 187 runs thanks to fifties from Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Riding on Jasprit Bumrah’s five-for, the visitors managed to bundle out the Proteas for just 194 runs, which meant a lead of just six runs for the hosts! India batted well in the second innings. Ajinkya Rahane hit his body after scoring 48 runs. Meanwhile, Kohli scored 41 runs as India set a target of 241 runs. The wicket turned into a minefield on the final day and this time South Africa’s batsmen were at the end. Mohammed Shami took five wickets and the visiting team won the game by 63 runs. Earlier in the series, skipper Kohli took the lead by scoring 153 runs in the second Test at Centurion. It was the only bright spot as India lost the match by 135 runs. Earlier, there was a loss in the opening Test where India lost by 72 runs. (Series 2–1 to South Africa)
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