South Africa vs India 2018: 5 areas of concern for India ahead of 2nd Test

Failure to play across the line

More than the ability, the South African bowlers seemed to have toyed with the brains of the Indian batsmen. The pacers had a foolproof plan, enticing the batsmen into poking at the ball by bowling in the channel, then slipping one in to fool them. It happened repeatedly, the victims being Rohit Sharma in the first innings and Virat Kohli in the second.

Kohli was set up well by Vernon Philander. The first three deliveries of the over were all outside the off-stump, with Kohli watchfully playing and leaving. The fourth ball, however, pitched on the off-stump itself and jagged in, leaving an unprepared Kohli late on the ball.

Dale Steyn accounted for Wriddhiman Saha with a leg before in the first innings, while Kagiso Rabada caught him in front of the stumps in the second. In overseas conditions, a clear understanding of the location of the stumps is imperative to leave deliveries outside off, and play those that are hurtling towards the woodwork.