Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons India will regret not beating South Africa in the two-match Test series. India registered a seven-wicket win at Newlands, Cape Town against the Proteas on Thursday to win their maiden Test match at the venue.
Manjrekar reckons this was the most beatable South African team as they lacked experience but India was not able to grab their chance. India lost the opening Test match against South Africa by an innings and 32 runs. The visitors could not deliver with the ball as they conceded 408 runs to give away a huge lead of 163 runs in the opening Test.
South Africa had an inexperienced batting as well as the bowling unit but India failed to take their chances in the opening Test. Thus, India will have to wait for the next tour to have a chance to win their maiden Test series on the South African soil.
Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar said, “If I am the coach or the captain, I will look at it as a regret. If you look at the past and the teams India had to beat in South Africa, they were tough teams. This was the most beatable South African team. Dean Elgar’s 185 prevented India from actually creating history.”
The renowned commentator added that a three-match ODI series made no sense.
“Said it before as well that there was no point of a three-match ODI series between the T20Is and the Test with it not even being an ODI World Cup year,” he stated.
Manjrekar added that South Africa’s Test future doesn’t look bright and they would have lost the opening Test if Elgar had not played a stunning knock of 185 runs.
“Imagine this South African team without Dean Elgar. They would have lost the first Test. They don’t give that much importance to Test cricket as well so I don’t think the future is rosy. The bowling wasn’t impressive too. I understand Dean Elgar’s decision to bat first because the sun was out and the pitch was tricky,” he stated.
India will next take on Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series.
