A little after India collapsed spectacularly to give South Africa an innings win in the First Test at the SuperSport Park on Thursday, the blue sky turned grey, then dark, and then it opened up. The rain was heavy, the wind strong.
Bad timing, the Indian fans — there were many of them — would have accused the rain of. But, it would have taken a deluge for India to save this Test: another two days still remained.
A Test match finishing well ahead of schedule is no rarity in these times of more aggressive style — including Bazball — influenced by white-ball cricket and the steady decline of grafters. Still, India’s capitulation was worryingly swift. Its second innings lasted just 34.1 overs. It has to be one of India’s weakest batting displays since the debacle in the Adelaide Test three years ago, when it was bowled out by Australia for 36 in the second innings.
