India crashed out in the first test against South Africa by an innings & six runs in Nagpur despite being the No.1 team in the ICC Rankings and that too in their own backyard?, I guess no one expected such a crashing defeat for India. But there were few aspects which India was not on the full. Absence of few class players due to injury, also lack of determination as a bowling unit. Below are the few key players India missed out, they could've surely made the difference.
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid nicknamed as "The Wall" missed out for the series due to injury suffered by him at the Bangladesh series. Dravid in his cricketing career of 130+ Test matches missed out playing a test match only for the second time, and both times he has missed out due to injuries. Nobody can even dare to Drop Dravid in the test matches. Rahul Dravid is the most decorated, class stroke master who has always been the backbone of the Indian cricket team. He prefers to play supporting role rather being a hero. He has saved so many test matches for India. Though some complain about the pace of play dravid has, but what one should not forget is the reilliance shown by dravid at the foreign soil, where many Indian batsmen where making a parade back to pavillion, Dravid stood there, faced the crushing bouncers of bowlers like Glenn Mcgrath, Brett Lee, Alan Donald etc, even though quite a few times he was very defensive but he ensured that the ball doesn't bounce anymore, swing anymore by playing so many deliveries & provided platform for the Other Indian middle order batsman to score so many Runs that they have. Dravid's caliber will comein to picture when he is not playing tests & there was an example in the first test against South Africa. Noone can really forget his Huge Tons which has taken India to many victories!
Rahul Dravid nicknamed as "The Wall" missed out for the series due to injury suffered by him at the Bangladesh series. Dravid in his cricketing career of 130+ Test matches missed out playing a test match only for the second time, and both times he has missed out due to injuries. Nobody can even dare to Drop Dravid in the test matches. Rahul Dravid is the most decorated, class stroke master who has always been the backbone of the Indian cricket team. He prefers to play supporting role rather being a hero. He has saved so many test matches for India. Though some complain about the pace of play dravid has, but what one should not forget is the reilliance shown by dravid at the foreign soil, where many Indian batsmen where making a parade back to pavillion, Dravid stood there, faced the crushing bouncers of bowlers like Glenn Mcgrath, Brett Lee, Alan Donald etc, even though quite a few times he was very defensive but he ensured that the ball doesn't bounce anymore, swing anymore by playing so many deliveries & provided platform for the Other Indian middle order batsman to score so many Runs that they have. Dravid's caliber will comein to picture when he is not playing tests & there was an example in the first test against South Africa. Noone can really forget his Huge Tons which has taken India to many victories!
Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman(VVS Laxman)
Nicknamed as Very Very Special! is defnitely one ot the very very special batsman India is gifted to have. This man here has also got so many big scores to his names, known for his long innings that he plays with result of very big scores. He has got the perfect timing and also has the Big heart to play in any tracks including the bouncy tracks of Australia against the mighty aussies. Who can forget the Record partnership of 376 along with Rahul Dravid where Laxman scored 281 along with Rahul Dravid who scored 180 at the Eden Gardens against Australia. But there is a happy news for India, as this VVSpl batsman is back to the squad for the next test and guess where the next test is being played? It is at the same EDEN GARDENS!
Nicknamed as Very Very Special! is defnitely one ot the very very special batsman India is gifted to have. This man here has also got so many big scores to his names, known for his long innings that he plays with result of very big scores. He has got the perfect timing and also has the Big heart to play in any tracks including the bouncy tracks of Australia against the mighty aussies. Who can forget the Record partnership of 376 along with Rahul Dravid where Laxman scored 281 along with Rahul Dravid who scored 180 at the Eden Gardens against Australia. But there is a happy news for India, as this VVSpl batsman is back to the squad for the next test and guess where the next test is being played? It is at the same EDEN GARDENS!
Yuvraj Singh
Though Yuvraj hasn't played many match-winning knocks in the tests, but he has defnitely been the Key player for India at the ODI & T20, esp. in the middle order. Nobody can forget his six-sixes in an over at the innagural T20 World Cup, Yuvraj couldn't be ruled out as a class player and he can take game away from the opponent if he gets going. But only thing he has lacked in Tests is Patience. But he being missed out of injury has defnitely added injury to the woes of Indian Cricket Team. Yuvraj guarenteed a spot in the test team only after the retirement of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly who can never be forgotten for his captaincy & also the support in the middle order.
Though Yuvraj hasn't played many match-winning knocks in the tests, but he has defnitely been the Key player for India at the ODI & T20, esp. in the middle order. Nobody can forget his six-sixes in an over at the innagural T20 World Cup, Yuvraj couldn't be ruled out as a class player and he can take game away from the opponent if he gets going. But only thing he has lacked in Tests is Patience. But he being missed out of injury has defnitely added injury to the woes of Indian Cricket Team. Yuvraj guarenteed a spot in the test team only after the retirement of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly who can never be forgotten for his captaincy & also the support in the middle order.
Bowling Department
This is the department where India really need to focus on. Indian bowlers failed to take 10 South African wickets in the first Innings despite playing almost for first two days. Zaheer Khan was the only bowler who has been consistently doing good, but he has not much support from the other end bowler whosoever sharing new ball with him in the recent times. India desperetely need a second pacer who could provide support to Zaheer. Spin department is not as effective as it was known to be. There was a time when any batsman would be in immense pressure to play against Indian spinners esp. in India with the class spin attack that India had. But now, Veteran Harbhajan is not so being effective as he was once upon a time. Also India hasn't found out a replacement for Spin Legend Anil Kumble who was seen towards at any time, any situation where India needed wickets. Kumble was a bowler who always had new ways to break huge partnerships & take wickets. India has to find a spinner who can atleast stand in Anil's shoes & can takeup the role that Kumble was playing for the Indian side.
This is the department where India really need to focus on. Indian bowlers failed to take 10 South African wickets in the first Innings despite playing almost for first two days. Zaheer Khan was the only bowler who has been consistently doing good, but he has not much support from the other end bowler whosoever sharing new ball with him in the recent times. India desperetely need a second pacer who could provide support to Zaheer. Spin department is not as effective as it was known to be. There was a time when any batsman would be in immense pressure to play against Indian spinners esp. in India with the class spin attack that India had. But now, Veteran Harbhajan is not so being effective as he was once upon a time. Also India hasn't found out a replacement for Spin Legend Anil Kumble who was seen towards at any time, any situation where India needed wickets. Kumble was a bowler who always had new ways to break huge partnerships & take wickets. India has to find a spinner who can atleast stand in Anil's shoes & can takeup the role that Kumble was playing for the Indian side.
