Not a happy departure for Tendulkar the captain

The most eventful happening of the short South African tour of India in early 2000 was something that took place off the field and before the Test series started. During the match between the tourists and the Board President's XI at the Cricket Club of India ­ the only first class game of the tour besides the two Tests ­ the chairman of the national selection committee Chandu Borde, accompanied by Sachin Tendulkar, came to the press box. The assembled reporters were keenly waiting for Borde to read out the names of the players selected for the first Test. They got that, but not before Tendulkar dropped an unexpected bombshell. The little master announced that he would be stepping down as captain after the two Tests. He was never really comfortable in both his tenures as the man at the helm and, unable to combat the pulls and pressures and the political machinations that are almost mandatory with the post, he decided to step down. This meant that the selectors would have to come up with a new captain for the five match one day series that was to follow the Test matches.

In the one day series, South Africa were the favourites but India pulled off a surprise. Wrapping up the contest by the fourth game after galloping to a 2-0 start, the Indians finally won the series 3-2. Of course, the match fixing allegations, which surfaced dramatically after the tour ended, took some of the gloss associated with the triumph.

The South Africans, who landed in February, were strongly challenging Australia for the top team in the world. Among their recent accomplishments was a 5-0 whitewash of the West Indies, besides series victories over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They were a well balanced side, possessing stroke playing batsmen in Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Daryl Cullinan and skipper Hansie Cronje, world-class all rounders in Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener and Shuan Pollock, an excellent wicketkeeper in Mark Boucher and their experienced and fiery pace spearhead Allan Donald. India would be surely up against it, especially after their dismal performance on the Australian tour, which just preceded the South African series. But given their formidable record at home, India were thought to have some chance in the two match contest.

With the youngsters faring particularly badly on the tour `Down Under' the selectors threw the net far and wide and gave Test caps to four players ­ Md Kaif, Murali Kartik, Wasim Jaffer and Nikhil Chopra. To add a sense of balance, they also recalled Md Azharuddin and Nayan Mongia. But all this came to nought before the all round superiority of the visitors, who won both the Tests, the first at Mumbai by four wickets in three days and the second at Bangalore by an innings and 71 runs early on the fifth morning. This marked India's first home series loss in 13 years; they had previously lost to Imran Khan led Pakistan in 1987.

It was basically the batting that let India down. In the first Test they were dismissed for scores of 225 and 113. Tendulkar's 97 in the first innings was the saving grace. In the second innings only Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly got into the 30s. The Indian bowlers put up a tremendous performance in restricting the South African first innings total to 176. This after openers Kirsten (50) and Gibbs (47) had put on 90 runs. Tendulkar himself made the breakthrough dismissing both batsmen and then Kartik and Kumble scythed through the middle order while Javagal Srinath made short work of the tail. A target of 163 on a wearing wicket was not going to be easy but again Kirsten (20) and Gibbs (46) gave them a good start, putting on 51 runs. Kumble then got among the wickets and with South Africa 128 for six, it did seem anybody's match. Kumble however had little support and Kallis' steadfastness and Boucher's strong arm tactics saw the visitors home.

Azharuddin was to have made his comeback in the Mumbai Test but he hurt his finger while playing for the Board President's XI in the tour opener. He then played his 99th ­ and probably his last - Test at Bangalore. It was a memorable match for him for he scored a fighting 102 in the Indian second innings but it was a less memorable encounter for his country which crashed to a comprehensive defeat. Again the batting was chiefly to blame, as totals of 158 and 250 on a good wicket clearly illustrate. That Kumble at No 8 was the top scorer with 36 not out in the first innings tells the sorry tale of the batting.

The Indians opted for the unconventional ­ and as it proved unwise ­ approach of not giving Srinath the support of a new ball partner. Instead, they played three spinners in Kumble, Chopra and Kartik, besides Tendulkar. The strategy backfired as the South Africans amassed 479. The consistent Kirsten got 79 and nightwatchman Nicky Boje, coming in at No 3, proved to be the veritable thorn in the flesh batting in obdurate fashion for 85. The middle-order piled on the agony with Kallis getting 95, Cullinan 53 and Klusener 97. Kumble's six for 143 off 68.4 overs was the one saving grace for the Indians.

In the second innings, only Azharuddin showed some defiance with no other player getting into the 30s. Another desperate tactic that misfired was asking Dravid to open the innings. The experienced right hander was out for 17 and 18. Boje capped a fine match with a seven wicket haul in the match, including five in the second innings.

In the one day series, South Africa were the favourites but India pulled off a surprise. Wrapping up the contest by the fourth game after galloping to a 2-0 start, the Indians finally won the series 3-2. Of course, the match fixing allegations, which surfaced dramatically after the tour ended, took some of the gloss associated with the triumph. But it was an achievement of sorts for the new captain Ganguly.