In the aftermath of India’s loss in the first Test against South Africa, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed his discontent with the team’s strategy against retired South African captain Dean Elgar. Elgar, playing in his farewell series, dominated India’s bowling attack with a formidable 185 off 287 balls, contributing significantly to South Africa’s commanding lead of 163 runs in the first innings.
Pathan, analyzing India’s performance, pointed out that Elgar has historically struggled against short deliveries. He emphasized that the Indian bowlers failed to exploit this weakness early in Elgar’s innings when he was vulnerable. Pathan suggested that, in the upcoming match, the Indian team should focus on delivering short balls to Elgar early on, given his previous susceptibility to this tactic, notably in Australia.
Expressing dissatisfaction with India’s bowling display in the first Test, Pathan criticized the team’s lack of discipline and the failure to strike the right balance between attack and defense. He highlighted the absence of sharpness in India’s bowling unit, emphasizing that a more nuanced approach is crucial for success in the second match to level the series against South Africa.
