Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has highlighted the dearth of planning whereas bowling to the South African batters within the first Test in Centurion final week. The Proteas defeated India by an innings and 32 runs within the first Test on the SuperSport Park, taking a 1-0 lead within the two-match sequence. Barring Jasprit Bumrah, who bagged 4 wickets in South Africa’s first innings, the Indian pacers struggled in opposition to the Proteas, with Dean Elgar smashing 185.

While analysing the match, Irfan mentioned that India didn’t perceive when to assault and when to defend in opposition to the South African batters.

“India did not have any sharpness in their bowling. The Indian bowling unit did not get the balance of attack vs defence right. When Elgar got set, even then India continued their attacking bowling as if they would get him out with one delivery,” Irfan mentioned on Star Sports.

Irfan additionally recommended that the Indian bowlers didn’t bowl nicely in opposition to Elgar, who has had struggles in opposition to quick ball early on his innings. He identified that the Indian batter began bowling quick balls to him when Elgar was nicely set.

“Elgar is known to have problems with the short ball. You bowled short balls to him when he was batting at 60-70. In the next match, please bowl short balls to him early. He got out to short balls in 4 times in Australia and I talked about that too in the commentary. You have to bowl very well in the second match to level the series,” he added.

After the defeat, India captain Rohit Sharma admitted that Bumrah lacked help from different finish as there was no cause to concede 400 plus runs on a bowling pleasant monitor the place South African speedsters confirmed go in regards to the job.

“This was not a 400-run wicket and we gave too many runs. We sprayed the ball all around, but it happens. One can’t depend on one particular bowler (Bumrah), the other three pacers also needed to perform their roles, we could learn from how South Africa bowled,” Rohit mentioned after the match.

He additionally mentioned that though there wasn’t lack of effort however Bumrah could not alone hold the stress on Proteas batters.

“Bumrah bowled well and we all know his quality. All he wanted was a bit of support which he didn’t get. That happens. All three tried hard, bending their backs but didn’t happen the way we wanted to. But games like these teaches you a lot as to what you want to do as a bowling unit,” the skipper noticed.

The second and remaining Test might be performed in Cape Town from January 3.

(With PTI Inputs)