A gripping affair

JOHANNESBURG, January 23

India skipper Virat Kohli today said performance of the pacers has been a big boost for the team and hinted at employing an all-seam attack against South Africa on a typical green Wanderers track in the third cricket Test beginning tomorrow. 

“Chances of anything happening are very bright. As I said, there is a lot of grass on the pitch. We would definitely look at that option. I am sure both the teams would be thinking about those options,” Kohli said when asked if India might go with an all-pace attack.

“Not many times on overseas tours we have picked 40 wickets in two Test matches. So, I think that’s a big boost for us... We are going to have a discussion on that and the other combinations.”

The Indian batsmen have come a cropper in the Test series and Kohli hoped they would learn from their mistakes. “I said before the series that whichever side bats better will win the series, and that’s been the case. The batsmen are looking to rectify their mistakes,” he said.

Kohli said he doesn’t see defeats as a burden and wants to take the losses in his stride and move forward. “Responsibility can become less or more according to phases, it’s all about hanging in there and accepting all the phases that are coming your way. I have to take it in my stride and go forward.”

South Africa, on the other hand, are eyeing to inflict a historic series sweep on India. “It doesn’t happen a lot that you get the chance to beat a team 3-0 and I would favour dominating India and being ruthless,” said SA skipper Faf du Plessis. “We have an amazing opportunity as a team to win 3-0, and that makes us even more hungry to go where no team has gone before.” 

‘Happy with preparations’ 

A day after India coach Ravi Shastri said that an extra 10 days of practice might have made a difference, Kohli said he was happy with the preparations and it was their own mistakes that cost them the series. “I don’t feel that we didn’t feel prepared, I won’t sit here and point that out after losing the series,” said Kohli. — Agencies 

Series so far 

First Test, Cape Town: South Africa won by 72 runs 

Second Test, Centurion: South Africa won by 135 

Can India remain unbeaten in Johannesburg?

India have never lost a Test in Johannesburg, having won 1 and drawn 3 out of four Tests played there since 1992:

Year Scores Result

1992 SA 292 & 252, India 227 & 141/4 Draw

1997 India 410 & 266/8d, SA 321 & 228/8 Draw

2006 India 249 & 236, SA 84 & 278 India won

2013 India 280 & 421, SA 244 & 450/7 Draw