Kohli had raced to 44, his highest score in the series and looked good for even more when he was sent by South Africa’s most successful bowler off-spinner Dane Piedt, who had figures of 4/101 to show for his efforts.
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The spinner also struck early in the second session, trapping the set Shikhar Dhawan (33) leg before while Abbott bowled out Cheteshwar Pujara (14) in the next over to peg back the hosts.
However, India’s most consistent batsman, who looked scratchy from the start, could not capitalise on it, uncharacteristically pushing a straighter one from Piedt to find Hashim Amla pouch one at the first slip.
India go into the Test in New Delhi with an unassailable 2-0 lead. Pitches that have provided a lot of turn to aid India’s traditional strength of spin bowling have been criticized, not least by the world governing body International Cricketing Council’s officiating team, which labeled the pitch in Nagpur as “poor”.
India’s innings was built around the fourth-wicket partnership (70 off 102 balls) and then Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja got together to see off a tough last session. I think there is the possibility of going five days. While that meant the ball came on to the bat a little better, the variable bounce at Feroz Shah Kotla demanded caution from the batsmen – some balls from Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel shot through while others climbed steeply from similar lengths.
Indian openers Murali Vijay and Dhawan struggled to negotiate the nagging line and length, inching their way to 29 in the first 15 overs.
The Tamil Nadu batsman suffered a nasty blow when he was surprised by the extra bounce of an Abbott delivery.
Vijay was caught in the slips by Amla while Dhawan was given lbw, the sharply turning ball hitting his front pad as he tried to defend. Off spinner Dane Piedt gave Proteas their first breakthrough. Ishant Sharma was the lone pacer for India during the Nagpur Test, but with the series already in his pocket, Kohli may opt to make some changes in the playing XI. As he settled in, however, he found his timing and a defensive punch against Abbott raced through the covers as fast as an attacking square drive against Morkel did a few overs later.
If India’s bowlers have won them the series, the form of the batsmen have been a major cause for concern. A bit cautious at the start of his knock, Pujara grew more confident as the innings wore on, smashing a full toss from leg-spinner Imran Tahir for a six in the last over before lunch. “I would hope the one in Delhi is absolutely the same”. It was delivery that moved in after pitching as it sneaked in breaching Pujara’s defence to hit the stumps. “We are criticised for our techniques but when visitors don’t play well, it’s always the wicket”, Kohli said, and the sarcasm was not lost on anyone. A whip off the back-foot off Piedt also raced to boundary.
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While he played second fiddle to Kohli during their stand, Rahane took charge once Wriddhiman Saha (1) was castled by Abbott’s reverse swing.
