‘It was almost as if India had decided that they are not going to win’ – Sunil Gavaskar on visitors’ approach on Day four of Cape Town Test

Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar wasn’t overly happy with the tactics Team India employed during the fourth day of their third Test against South Africa at the Newlands in Cape Town. The game was nicely poised ahead of the penultimate day as the Proteas needed 111 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.

But the hosts made light work of the run-chase as they tracked down the target in 63.3 overs. Keegan Petersen became the Player of the Match for scoring vital half-centuries in both innings. He also got the Player of the Series award.

Gavaskar was surprised by India not making optimum utilisation of Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur when wickets were the need of the hour. The veteran was also agitated with India’s field placements where they gave away easy runs to the opposition.

There were singles available easily, says Sunil Gavaskar

“It was a mystery to me why Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah did not bowl after lunch. It was almost as if India had decided that they are not going to win this,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

“The field placements there were for Ashwin was not right… There were singles available easily. Five fielders were in the deep. Let the batters take a chance. That is your only opportunity to get them out,” he stated.

Gavaskar, in the meantime, had words of praises for the Proteas for showing a great amount of character on a difficult surface to bat on at the Newlands.

“The pitches weren’t the best for batting but the application shown by the South Africans in Johannesburg, the application shown by them in this Test as well has been praiseworthy. That showed the character of the team,” Gavaskar added.

South Africa made a poor start to the series, losing the Centurion Test by 113 runs. India looked favourites to win their maiden Test series on South African soil.

Thereafter, Dean Elgar and Co. made a stupendous comeback, winning the second game by seven wickets. The Proteas, in the end, made sure that they finished things off comprehensively.