Highlights:
- Anil Kumble said India showed poor application and patience in their first-innings collapse.
- India were dismissed for just 201 despite a batting-friendly pitch.
- South Africa’s Marco Jansen starred with 6/48 after scoring 93 runs earlier.
- Kumble said Indian batters weren’t prepared for tough bowling spells or long sessions.
- Dale Steyn praised India for controlling the first three days despite the collapse.
The legendary Anil Kumble on Monday (24) slammed the Indian batters' approach after the team conceded a 288-run lead to South Africa in the second Test here, even as pace great Dale Steyn lauded the visitors after three successive days of dominance.
On a pitch that Kuldeep Yadav had compared to a "road", India were bounced out for a lowly 201 in their first innings by 6 feet 8 inches tall pacer Marco Jansen, who returned a haul of 6 for 48 after smashing 93 on the second day.
"I felt India's batting effort was quite poor. The application and patience required in Test cricket were missing. While there were some good deliveries, the batsmen didn't seem prepared to endure tough spells or play session by session," Kumble told JioStar.
India suffered a difficult Test series against South Africa, marked by lacklustre batting and dominant South African performances. In the Kolkata Test, India was bowled out for just 93 in the final innings, losing by 30 runs as South African pacers exploited the conditions superbly.
Despite occasional resistance from KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, no batter could anchor the lineup, and India’s inability to play out tough spells drew sharp criticism from legends like Anil Kumble.
The second Test in Guwahati was even tougher—South Africa piled up 489, with Marco Jansen leading the way with 93 runs, and then ripped through the Indian batting order for only 201.
Jansen starred with a six-wicket haul, while Washington Sundar’s 48 was the only substantial effort from the hosts. South Africa’s bowlers, led by Jansen and Harmer, repeatedly took crucial wickets, leaving India with a 288-run deficit by the third day’s end and trailing in the series.
Overall, India’s performances in November 2025 were defined by poor application under pressure and a lack of batting grit, allowing South Africa to dominate both matches.
