As Feroz Shah Kotla prepares to host India and South Africa for the fourth and final Test of the Freedom series after much deliberation, the horrors of Nagpur must still be looming on Proteas' minds. Amid the raging pitch debate, the South Africans would be trying not to dwell too much on what Kotla will offer, or what it will not, but they must be wary of history repeating itself.
The last time a Test match was played at Kotla — India vs Australia, fourth and final Test of the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy — it was over in three days, just like Nagpur. Just like Mohali before that. Ashwin and Jadeja ran the show at Kotla, taking seven wickets each over two innings. India completed a whitewash, bringing a grim end to Australia's tour to India.
As grim endings go, it seems South Africa is facing one. Feroz Shah Kotla, named after a fortress built by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq, is not short of a fortress itself for India in Tests. Since 1993, Kotla has been a host to 10 Tests, out of which India has won nine and drawn one. The last time India lost a Test at Kotla was when the West Indies were still a force to be reckoned with: 1987. This is, however, the first meeting between the sides at this venue.
South Africa's AB de Villiers (L) speaks with Faf du Plessis. AFP
Despite the odds stacked up against the South Africans, they must be looking at this Test as an opportunity. The nine-year clean away Test record has run its course, they've lost the Freedom series, but they still are the number one Test side. Kotla gives them a chance to prove why.
Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis said after Nagpur that these conditions are the toughest they've ever played under. And while the world can debate on "diabolical" pitches, the visitors must be looking to address the devil in their batting. At Nagpur, barring a few unplayable deliveries, Amla and Co threw away their wickets playing bad shots. True, a hostile pitch doesn't let a batsmen settle into his own, and even the best have trouble grinding it out. It demands a lot of focus and determination, as evident from the superb 72-run second innings stand between Amla and du Plessis. But Amla, du Plessis and AB de Villiers need to back their ability, put their heads down and come up with their due at Kotla.
With the series in the bag, a confident team India would be looking to stamp their authority on the visitors for a final time. Virat Kohli would be on his home turf for the first time as Test captain and would want to make the occasion a memorable one.
Talking of memorable things, India's batting hasn't exactly been that throughout the Test series. The spinners have been bailing the batsmen out, but it's only a matter of time when answers from the bat would be needed. Kotla Test will also be an opportunity for India to mix it up a bit, try two seamers, with the Delhi winter setting in.
ICC on Tuesday rated the Nagpur track 'poor' based on Match Referee Jeff Crowe's report. The South Africans haven't criticised the track but it did receive considerable flak from the cricketing community. However, Kohli and Shastri have been defiant in their defense of the pitch and dismissed all criticism as 'cribbing.'
"People can talk about it or can choose not to talk about it. The fact is that we have won the series. We won two Test matches. We have sealed the series and we are happy about it," Kohli had said in the post-match press conference in Nagpur. Shastri went as far as to say "to hell with five days," over criticism on Test matches ending in three days. The new-look team India looks bullish and defiant, proud of their victories and dismissive of their detractors.
But Kohli and Shastri should know that while the pitch can be defended, the kind of batting that has been on display, cannot. Save Murali Vijay, Indian batsmen have looked rusty throughout the Test series. One should note though that they haven't blamed the pitch for that. Nothing would be as good a defence for the pitch as a solid batting performance by the Indian side. One guy from India's top order needs to go out and get a big one, something that hasn't been seen throughout the Freedom series.
As the 72-day long tour comes to a close, South Africa would like go back home with a parting gift. A victory for the visitors at Kotla, a stronghold for the Indian side, would not make up for the series loss, but it would send out a message — South Africa are still to be feared as travelers. In a series which hasn't witnessed quality cricket, India and South Africa would like to steal the limelight from the pitch in Delhi.
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