Centurion, January 24: Team India narrowly missed the history book in South Africa but it achieved several milestones in this tour.
India managed to draw the first ever Test series 1-1 in South Africa and won the only T20. Despite of Yusuf Pathan’s last hour cameo, India lost the Centurion ODI and series 2-3 on Sunday.
Ahead of the World Cup, India has emerged as the top contender for the coveted trophy. In the absence of senior players, India’s bench strength raised the on the occasion brilliantly. India went to the ODI series without Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Sachin Tendulkar and Praveen Kumar also returned midway due to injuries but young guns have shown that they are capable to take the baton.
However, the failure of top order should be blamed for ODI series lost. However, Virat Kohli and Yusuf Pathan have justified their selection in the world cup.
Yusuf Pathan’s brutal attack in the series decider proved that no one can hit the cricket ball as hard as he can. He brought India near a miraculous win with his quickfire second ODI hundred. He scored 105 runs just off 70 deliveries. His innings was studded with eight sixes and as many boundaries.
Before the beginning of South Africa tour, cricket pundits had predicted that India will have a chance to prove his supremacy in Test cricket and become top contender of World Cup 2011, beginning from February 19.
After end of the final series before World Cup, it is now clear that South Africa and India are among the top contender for this year’s trophy. Both the top teams are placed in the same group.
——–Agencies