 "Anil Kumble criticised Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel for throwing away their wickets. Images: PTI")
Former Indian captain and coach Anil Kumble was livid as India lost four wickets in the first session of Day 3 in the second Test against South Africa at Guwahati on Monday (24 November). On a hard batting surface, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (58), KL Rahul (22), Sai Sudharsan (15) and Dhruv Jurel (0) in the first session, going to Tea break on 102/4 and trailing the Proteas by 387 runs.
They also lost captain Rishabh Pant early on at the start of the second session as he got out to Marco Jansen.
Some of the shot selections by Indian batters were questionable, especially from Sudharsan and Jurel as they got out playing pull shots without any pressure. The quick fall of wickets towards the end of the first session has put India in a spot of bother.
Kumble slams Indian batters for early collapse in Guwahati
Analysing the collapse, former South African pacer Dale Steyn said that “a couple of bad shots from Indian batters” have put the team in deep trouble.
Kumble was even more brutal in his assessment as he lambasted the batters for lacking patience.
“It was disappointing. First one hour, they batted very well. KL Rahul got a very good ball that bounced on him. After that, I thought they would go to break being one down. Dhruv Jurel and Sai Sudharsan, those dismissals, I think they (shots) were half-hearted. Four wickets down. Yesterday, only four wickets fell. It was very disappointing.”
“They (South African spinners) slowed it down as compared to Indian spinners…Indian spinners were around 90 kph (South African spinners were bowling around 80kph). It is also not just about slowing down the ball, but it needs to go over the bat.”
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View AllKumble added that showing some patience and playing with a straight bat would be enough to do well on the Guwahati pitch.
“This is something Indian batters would have to be careful about when they come out to bat in the second session. It’s not about survival. Play with straight hands and runs will come.”