India lost Nagpur Test by an Innings and 6 runs on 9/2/2010, fourth day of the Test. India’s Test ranking is No. 1 and South Africa’s No. 2.
As per original tour programme South Africa was to play seven ODIs. India defeated Sri Lanka in Tests at the end of 2009 and attained No. 1 ranking in Tests. India wanted a change in the series to retain its No. 1 status and the series was changed to two Tests and five ODIs.
India had a series in Bangladesh and won two Tests. Sreesanth, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh got injured.
India’s bowling and fielding was poor and batting was average. Dropped catches allowed South Africa to declare at 558/6. Ishant Sharma and Amit Misra did not get any wicket in spite of conceding 85 and 140 runs respectively.
South Africa was good in batting, bowling and its fielding could have been better. Dale Steyn’s bowling was outstanding. In India’s second Innings Sachin Tendulkar was dropped when he was 45 and he scored 100, his 46th Test century.
It was Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 12th Test as captain and first loss. There are times for a captain when everything goes right and he keeps winning. Then comes a time when everything goes wrong and he keeps losing. I am reminded of Ajit Wadekar. He defeated West Indies in West Indies in 1971. West Indies’ fielding was poor. In England when India was to lose two Tests rain interrupted and the Tests ended in draw. India won the third Test at Oval. India won the 1972-1973 series against England in India. In 1974 India was in England lost all three Tests. In the second by an Innings and 265 runs. In the second Innings India was all out for 42. In the third Test England lost only two wickets. India lost the Test by an Innings and 78 runs. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had smooth sailing for most of the time. He won Twenty20 World Cup in 2007. After he became Test captain the Tests were won or draw. Now he has tasted defeat.
Selection committee has reacted by dropping three players, two of whom did not play the Test. This committee is supposed to be professional but nothing seems to have changed.
