Woh bhooli dastaan, lo phir yaad aa gayi...(a.k.a deja vu)

The Indians are at it again. A hype, a build up, an expectation confronts and they lose virility.


Looking at the fragility of India's #1 position in the ICC table, it was of utmost necessity that the Indian team not submit to the South Africans. They were expected to show some desire, some adhesion, some commitment to retaining their current position at the top of the table.


As has become a regular source of disappointment, the Indian batting line up went dud in its first appearance at the crease in the series. Not having Dravid and Laxman in the lineup did not help matters either. Failing to get into a dominant (or equal) position in the first innings of a short series basically equals to forfeiting advantage for the remainder of the series. India will thus remain on the defensive for the remainder of the series.


Dale Steyn led South Africa's invasion just like he did on the previous tour. South Africa have, on the third day of the first Test itself, registered an advantage that will echo right down to the last day of this series. Steyn's burst is enough to put India on the back foot not just for this match but for the entire series now on. 


The first Test is a done deal for the Indians as far as I can see, unless the little Master and captain Dhoni conjure an escape act on day-4 and 5, reminiscent of the famous one from Dravid-Laxman against Australia from 2001. (But such heroic comebacks are once in a lifetime and for all reasonable arguments, the first Test is now South Africa's.) 


India will go into the second Test with no margin for error, simultaneously leaving the South African's in the easy seat in a nothing to lose situation.  


South Africa may be playing the perfect Test match here. Steyn's 7-for and Amla's dogged double have given the guests the early impetus for the whole series per Se, which must be just what Graeme Smith wished for. Remains to be seen how India saves the series now, from the sanguine South Africans.