The 135-run defeat in Centurion on Wednesday ended India's nine-Test series winning run as South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber.
Former India captains Bishan Singh Bedi and Ajit Wadekar are not at all surprised with the current team's surrender in South Africa as they feel Virat Kohli's men went into the series without serious preparation and "wasted time" playing against Sri Lanka.
The 135-run defeat in Centurion on Wednesday ended India's nine-Test series winning run as South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber.
India had hammered Sri Lanka in a full series at home before departing for South Africa. The series was arranged within three months of the away assignment in Sri Lanka where India blanked the hosts. When asked about India's preparation for South Africa tour, Bedi came up with a stinging response.
"There was no preparation. We wasted our time with the Sri Lankans. There was no sense in playing a weak team for one and a half month when we should be preparing for South Africa," said Bedi. "It was supposed to be a tough tour and it required intense preparation. You beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and you then call them to India, for what? The Indian cricketers would have been better off playing domestic cricket or preparing themselves exclusively for the tour," said the spin great.
India went into the series without playing a warm-up match. However, Bedi said there is no need to press the panic button yet. "India have been outplayed. It is not a cause of panic, it is a cause of concern. Bowlers have done a good job. The catching and batting has left a lot to be desired. It is a good trial by fire for this Indian team."
India will travel to England and Australia later this year and with the performance against South Africa, they have certainly not increased the fans' expectations for future tours. Bedi felt the ODI form was given preference over the five-day form when it came to selecting the playing eleven.
One example of that was picking Rohit Sharma over vice- captain Ajinkya Rahane in the first two Tests. Rohit ended with 78 runs in four innings, averaging 19.50. "It is not my job to pick the team. I can only say that vice captain, who is part of the decision-making, is not playing. I can't agree with that.
"Whether you like it or not, he is a human being. Rahane is not going to take this development positively. Why did you make him vice-captain if you had to drop him? "It looks like ODI form was preferred for picking the eleven, which is not the right thing. Test matches are a different ball game and this series has proved that," Bedi added.
Another baffling decision was to drop pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar after a six-wicket haul in the first Test in Cape Town, he said.
Wadekar too blamed the lack of time for Team India to "acclimatise" in South Africa. The 76-year-old former India skipper, however, praised the captaincy of Kohli.
"He (Kohli) is a good captain, but basically (in) South Africa (it) is very difficult to win, because the wickets are very fast. Our team did not have enough time to get acclimatised to those conditions (in South Africa) and that may be the reason (for the loss)," said Wadekar.
Asked whether lessons needed to be learnt by those who organise overseas tours, Wadekar quipped, "I hope they learn the lesson because, they never seem to be learning the lessons and that's the problem with them. Most of the guys (who are) in the (Cricket) Board haven't (ever) handled the bat." India face the hosts in the third Test at Johannesburg next week and Wadekar feels the visitors should show some fight.
"We should try to fight it out. Generally, we play the same eleven and make one or two changes. Now those who are in reserve may be given a chance to see their potential at the highest level...that is very essential," Wadekar said when quizzed how should the team approach the third Test.
Meanwhile, former India player Lalchand Rajput said that credit should be given to South Africa for the way they played in the second Test. "Give credit to SA (South Africa), the way they bowled and batted in both the innings (in the second Test)," said Rajput.
"Again as usual Virat Kohli was the key (for) batting in the first innings and when he bats pitch looks easy. We had our chances, but could not hold to it but credit to SA for playing good cricket," Rajput, a domestic bulwark, said.
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