In their final international match of 2023, the Indian cricket team faced a disappointing performance against South Africa, particularly in the much-anticipated ‘Final Frontier’ series. The outcome on the field was far from what was anticipated, with India’s first innings closing at 245. South Africa, led by Dean Elgar’s remarkable 185, amassed a formidable 408-run total. The second innings witnessed a lone battle by Virat Kohli (76), but India succumbed to an all-out total of just 131. This led to a staggering defeat for India, losing the match by an innings and 32 runs.

In the second innings, only Kohli and Shubman Gill (26) managed to reach double-digit figures, while four Indian batters failed to score at all. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared his insights on the performance through a comprehensive post on social media.

Tendulkar praised South Africa for their outstanding performance, especially their pace attack that exceeded expectations in the second innings, despite the pitch becoming more favorable for batting as the match progressed. He observed that India’s shot selection throughout the Test was subpar, with only a few batters, including Elgar, Jansen, Bedingham, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, showing comfort with the bat and navigating the challenging conditions with technique and poise.

South Africa secured an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series, shattering India’s aspirations of winning a Test series in South Africa for the first time in 31 years. The only redemption for India now lies in a 1-1 draw, a possibility they can strive for during the upcoming New Year’s Test in Cape Town.

The Indian team’s lackluster batting performance reflected a sense of cluelessness and a lack of preparedness for the challenging assignment. Captain Rohit Sharma, experiencing a rough period after losing the World Cup final and being removed from Mumbai Indians’ captaincy, did not exhibit the leadership that had made him a favorite during the World Cup.

The team, much like its skipper, appeared disheveled and without a plan B for course correction. With Bob Marley’s iconic “Don’t worry, Everything Gonna be Alright” played in the background, the Indian team must be reflecting on how nothing went right throughout the entire course of the match.