If the manner of Virender Sehwag's dismissal was any indication,one would have got the feeling that at least the Indian batsmen are not prepared to a play a Test match in South Africa just yet.India have narrowly escaped the ignominy of being bowled out within the very first day,a mostly rain curtailed one,of the 1st Test vs. South Africa in Centurion.I had feared something akin to this considering the possibility that once Graeme Smith wins the toss and sends India into bat.Because though part of the Indian contingent had made a premature landing here while the others were busy engaging with New Zealand in the very recently concluded ODI series in their own backyard,commencing a tough tour like the current one full on without having played a single competitive ball in these foreign conditions is ridiculous.India is touring SA after a length of 4 years.Unless you take a few blows and bruises,you are hardly ready to tackle Dale Steyn and Co. on a surface specifically designed to kill.
No major surprises in the Indian XI except for Jaydev Unakdat,the Saurashtra pacer finally making his debut, after being in contemplation of the the national selectors for the past few months,as Zaheer Khan sits out with an injury.One had perhaps expected Chetshwar Pujara (even captain Dhoni had hinted at this after the Test series vs. NZ was over) in place of Suresh Raina,who's going through a rough patch lately.Pujara stands god with his sound technique and his recent experiences in overseas surroundings in the Emerging Players' tours he's been part of.
Anyways,the matter in stead instead is,India are 136/9 after play was stopped on the first day due to bad light and so it remained at stumps,which means Dhoni can't be expected to add substantially privileged only with the company of the debutant at the centre.The task today is well cut out,to get out of the sleep bags as quickly as possible and pull the socks up.
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