Guwahati, Nov 24 (NationPress) Former Indian captain Anil Kumble expressed his disappointment regarding the hosts' batting performance in the ongoing second Test against South Africa, labeling it as ‘quite poor’ and devoid of the essential discipline, application, and patience. On the third day of the match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, India was dismissed for 201 in their first innings, placing South Africa in a dominant position to secure both the game and the series with a lead of 314 runs.

At the conclusion of the second day, spinner Kuldeep Yadav described the pitch as “a road”, yet the Indian batsmen could not capitalize and failed to score substantial runs. Following the dismissal of openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, poor shot selection led to a significant collapse, leaving India vulnerable and facing the prospect of a series loss to South Africa.

India plunged from 95/1 to 122/7 within a session and a half, showcasing a dismal performance. Kumble remarked, “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.”

He further noted, “It seemed like the aim was to chase runs quickly, which is unrealistic in a Test match where 489 runs need to be built gradually. Respecting the opposition bowlers and their spells is crucial, but India didn’t show enough of that resilience,” during an interview on JioStar.

The dismissals of B. Sai Sudharsan, Dhurv Jurel, and skipper Rishabh Pant within a span of 13 balls can be characterized as a lapse in judgment, as left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen claimed 6-48.

Kumble praised Jansen's performance, stating, “Marco Jansen bowled exceptionally well, putting India under consistent pressure. When he started bowling bouncers, which can be tricky given his height and awkward length, India appeared unprepared to either leave or take the blows. That approach is essential in Test cricket to survive challenging spells, but unfortunately, it was lacking in India’s approach today.”

Kumble also commended South Africa’s clinical performance over three days in the second Test, adding that Indian batters could have performed better if they displayed the determination that Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav exhibited in their 72-run stand.

“South Africa has been spot on, even in their selection choices. Muthusamy came in as an all-rounder who bowls sparingly, but his century was a major contribution. The partnership between him and Marco Jansen effectively took the game away from India,” Kumble stated.

“In terms of India’s performance today, Jansen bowled with clear intent and discipline, and India simply capitulated. The fight and grit we saw from Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav in the lower order were missing from the top order, which was needed on a pitch like this,” he concluded.

“South Africa has dominated the match for three days and will be very satisfied with their position—leading by 325 runs with two days still left means they’re in a commanding spot,” he concluded.