Team India lost the first Test at Cape Town by 72 runs and hoped for a better turn of events when the second Test started on 13 January at the Centurion.
The Test match got off to a controversial start after Virat Kohli announced his decision of leaving Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India’s best player from the Cape Town Test, out of the playing XI. Parthiv Patel came in for an injured Wriddhiman Saha and KL Rahul replaced Shikhar Dhawan. One of India’s best batsmen on foreign soil, Ajinkya Rahane, was once again overlooked.
South Africa, who won the toss on a bright Saturday morning, decided to have a bat first and amassed 335. In reply, India could manage only 307 despite captain Virat Kohli scoring a masterful 153.
The Proteas started the second innings watchfully to score a match-winning total of 258 helped by India’s uninspired fielding efforts.
Chasing 287 for victory, India could muster only 151 runs to hand South Africa a 135-run victory and give the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Following Team India’s drubbing, Twitterati vented their anger at the Indian cricket board, Kohli and the players for their dismal performance.
Here’s how Twitterati trolled Team India:
Abject, pathetic, spineless #IndiaBatting
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/SamreenRazzaqui/status/953559794417246208
Indian Team right now:#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/Labhx9mWpu
— LolmLol (@LOLiyapa) January 17, 2018
Indian Team heading towards Airport. *Sigh*#INDvSA #SAvInd pic.twitter.com/dFXb1zNbtk
— The Viral Fever (@TheViralFever) January 17, 2018
India in Test series in South Africa:
1992-93: Lost 0-1
1996-97: Lost 0-2
2001-02: Lost 0-1
2006-07: Lost 2-1
2010-11: Drawn 1-1
2013-14: Lost 1-0
2017-18: Lost 2-0*#SAvInd— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) January 17, 2018
Hisaab 25 saal ka lol.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 17, 2018
India has enough cricketers which make 5 playing 11's, @BCCI should make atleast 2 Teams, one for Home and other for Away, taaki duniya ke bhare bazar mein ijjat ka faalooda na ho. #okbye
— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) January 17, 2018
Ravi Shastri seemed dejected by the performance of Indian batsmen in the dressing room #SAvIND #2ndTest pic.twitter.com/6jueajLWle
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 17, 2018
Oh naadaan parinde, ghar aa jao. #SAvIND
— Jamie Alter 🇮🇳 (@alter_jamie) January 17, 2018
The two favourite songs of the Indian cricket team –
In India: ♬ Home Shanti Home, Shanti Shanti Home. ♬
Outside India: ♬ Main To Away Away Away Away
Lut Gaya ♬#IndvsSA— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 17, 2018
Ab Sri Lanka ke sath 25 match ki test series rakhenge Indore mein, wahan Sita ji ki kidnapping tak ka hissab lenge ! #INDvSA
— Rofl Gandhi 2.0 🏹 (@RoflGandhi_) January 17, 2018
India – lenge Hisab 25 saal ka
After 2 tests – bhool chook leni deni
— Arun Lol (@dhaikilokatweet) January 17, 2018
Lungi ne India ki pant utar di.#SAvsIND
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 17, 2018
Wapas bula lo team ko south africa se, ab aur beizzatti sahi nahi ja rahi
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) January 17, 2018
The only problem with Virat Kohli that he is going to win a test match with specialist ODI players and specialist test players are sitting on the bench.#INDvSA
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) January 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/ViratsFangirl18/status/953570621610385408
Reporter : sab itni jaldi out kyu ho gaye ?
Kohli : aaj parthiv patel ka CA ka result aane wala hai to uske liye
— Subject Kantala (@ifOnlyKewal) January 17, 2018
How Indian batsmen play when they are overseas. #SAvInd pic.twitter.com/fCatrg168C
— Karan Talwar (@BollywoodGandu) January 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/indiantweeter/status/953555097711235072
Another defeat for India against the Proteas in South Africa #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/XyW52d1nPl
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 17, 2018
