Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said that batting would have been even more difficult on the Cape Town pitch that saw the shortest Test match ever in cricket history which ended in two days. India beat South Africa by seven wickets that lasted just 642 balls. There have been a lot of questions about the nature of the pitch. And, Karthik believes that had the Test lasted longer, cracks could have shown even more and the batters might have been injured due to bad bounce.
Dinesh Karthik told Cricbuzz: “The batting could have got really difficult had more cracks opened up with time. It would have been difficult in a way that could have led to batters getting body blows. So in a way, it’s good that the match ended so soon with no one getting injured.”
Dinesh Karthik also said that Jasprit Bumrah’s six-wicket haul turned the table after the Proteas picked up six wickets for no runs and wrapped up the Indian innings quickly. However, Bumrah’s five wickets on day two ensured that India weren’t chasing a massive target.
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“We needed seven wickets and the Test could have gone either way. But he comes and picks five wickets and shows that he is a man on a mission. Some of the greatest bowlers in the world would be envious of that average. I can promise you he is one of the toughest bowlers that the batters must have ever faced,” he again stated.
Meanwhile, Zaheer Khan recently opined on how India have formed a formidable pace attack with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. Bumrah and Siraj were stunning with the ball in the two-match Test series against South Africa, finishing with 12 and 9 wickets, respectively as well. Shami, on the other hand, was ruled out due to an ankle injury.
Zaheer said to Cricbuzz: “We have all seen what Mohammed Shami can do. His wicket-taking strike rate is exceptional. Jasprit Bumrah is a proven match-winner, while Mohammed Siraj has also shown great improvement and progress over the years. If these three play together, India can trouble any team, irrespective of the conditions. Mohammed Siraj’s six-wicket haul in the first innings holds great significance, given the context of the series. India were 0-1 behind and had even lost the toss in the second Test. Siraj set the tone with his fantastic spell.”
