Johannesburg: India skipper Virat Kohli praised his bowlers after the victory over South Africa in the third and final Test on Saturday.
Needing to score 241 runs in their second innings, South Africa were bowled out for 177 as India won by 63 runs. South Africa won the series 2-1.
Despite the series defeat, the Indian fast bowlers did a fantastic job over the three matches as they matched their more illustrious South African counterparts blow for blow.
In the third Test, India fielded an all-pace bowling attack after a long time and reaped rich rewards on a pitch which was difficult to bat on.
“The bowlers were the biggest positive; we haven’t done 60 wickets in the past. We want to correct certain mistakes. That lower-order showed character. This win feels great,” Kohli told the media at the end of the match.
“We required some character on a pitch that was very difficult but our guys showed great guts. Batting first didn’t go down well with a lot of people. Hats off to the team for showing character after the series was gone,” he added.
Kohli, however, admitted that the Indian batsman were a bit overwhelmed by the South African conditions and should have done better during the series.
“As batsmen, if we can think about countering conditions better, we can do away from home,” he said.
Veteran batsman Hashim Amla and a brave Dean Elgar staged a fighting 119-run stand in the second innings for the Proteas.
While Amla was dismissed after scoring a patient 52, Elgar was the top scorer for the hosts with an unbeaten 86 despite taking several nasty blows on his body throughout his innings. Kohli heaped praise on the duo for their fighting spirit.
“It’s a funny game. You think of many ways to get a batsmen out. Amla and Elgar played well. In pressure situations, when wickets go down in Test cricket, it’s very difficult to come back,” the Indian captain said.
South Africa’s issue will be the how to prepare pitches that are a more even contest between bat and ball, with a four-match home series looming against Australia in March.
“We never asked for something excessive. We never asked for extra grass. All we asked for was a typical South African wicket that has pace and bounce,” captain Faf du Plessis said.
“So we’re pretty disappointed with that. It’s disappointing to see that once again we’re not getting it right. I don’t know how to answer it or how to change it, but it obviously needs to improve.”
