India’s hopes of winning their first Test series in South Africa were dealt a severe blow when they lost the first Test at Centurion by an innings and 32 runs. The visitors were outplayed in all departments by a spirited South African side, who exploited the conditions and the weaknesses of the Indian batsmen and bowlers. India now face a must-win situation in the second Test at Cape Town, starting from January 3, 2024.

What went wrong for India in the first Test? And what can they do to bounce back and level the series in the New Year’s Test? Here are some key points to consider:

• The batting collapse: India’s batting performance in the first Test was one of their worst in recent times. They managed to score only 245 and 131 in their two innings, with only two batsmen – KL Rahul and Virat Kohli – crossing fifty. The rest of the batting line-up failed to cope with the pace and bounce of the South African bowlers, especially Nandre Burger, who took four wickets in each innings. India’s batsmen need to show more application, technique and temperament in the second Test, and avoid playing loose shots or edging behind the wicket. They also need to rotate the strike and build partnerships, rather than getting bogged down by the pressure.
• The bowling inconsistency: India’s bowling attack, which was expected to be their strength in South Africa, also disappointed in the first Test. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, who took six wickets in the match, none of the other bowlers could make an impact. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur were erratic and expensive, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja could not extract much turn or bounce from the pitch. India’s bowlers need to bowl with more discipline, accuracy and aggression in the second Test, and exploit the seam and swing conditions in Cape Town. They also need to support Bumrah, who has been the lone warrior for India in the pace department.
• The team selection: India’s team selection for the first Test also raised some eyebrows. They opted to play with five specialist bowlers, leaving out Hanuma Vihari, who could have added some depth and stability to the batting order. They also chose to play two spinners, Ashwin and Jadeja, despite the pitch not offering much assistance to them. India’s team management need to rethink their strategy and balance for the second Test, and pick the best combination according to the conditions and the opposition. They might consider bringing in Vihari or Shubman Gill to bolster the batting, and replacing one of the spinners with a pace-bowling all-rounder like Hardik Pandya or Ishant Sharma.

India have a tough task ahead of them in the second Test, but they are not a team to give up easily. They have shown in the past that they can bounce back from difficult situations and challenge the best teams in the world. They have the talent, the experience and the leadership to turn things around in the New Year’s Test, and level the series against South Africa. It will be a test of their character, resilience and skill, and a chance to create history in the Rainbow Nation.