Tendulkar endures, Sehwag disappoints
For the first time, India were not beaten in a Test series in South Africa, but they also squandered their best opportunity to win
Sidharth Monga
08-Jan-2011
Sachin Tendulkar, at 37, was best equipped to deal with Dale Steyn's venomous spells • AFP
Virender Sehwag
Will be disappointed mostly because he survived 10 overs on four occasions without converting any of those starts into a match-turning hundred. Also because he got himself out four out of the six times he was dismissed. Still far from being a mere subcontinent batsman though.
Will be disappointed mostly because he survived 10 overs on four occasions without converting any of those starts into a match-turning hundred. Also because he got himself out four out of the six times he was dismissed. Still far from being a mere subcontinent batsman though.
Gautam Gambhir
Many doubted his ability, for they hadn't seen him bat in South Africa, against the best new-ball bowlers in the world. Didn't run away from the challenge, fought it out in typical Gambhir fashion, scored three fifties in four innings, one of them to eat up four-and-a-half hours when South Africa were pushing for a win on the last day.
Many doubted his ability, for they hadn't seen him bat in South Africa, against the best new-ball bowlers in the world. Didn't run away from the challenge, fought it out in typical Gambhir fashion, scored three fifties in four innings, one of them to eat up four-and-a-half hours when South Africa were pushing for a win on the last day.
M Vijay
It would have been too much to ask of a replacement opener to come in and make an impact in the testing conditions of Durban. Still made South Africa work for his wicket.
It would have been too much to ask of a replacement opener to come in and make an impact in the testing conditions of Durban. Still made South Africa work for his wicket.
Rahul Dravid
Didn't score a half-century. Brought up his 200th catch with a beauty. Each time he batted well - and he did, despite what scores say - a peach dismissed him. There were three poor dismissals too, when he chased wide deliveries or ran himself to doom.
Didn't score a half-century. Brought up his 200th catch with a beauty. Each time he batted well - and he did, despite what scores say - a peach dismissed him. There were three poor dismissals too, when he chased wide deliveries or ran himself to doom.
Sachin Tendulkar
Looked good for the next tour too. Started fourth straight year with a century, and how well he played for it, surviving the most dangerous spell of the series. There was a century in Centurion too, his 50th. Everybody thinks this is his last tour here, everybody is wondering why.
Looked good for the next tour too. Started fourth straight year with a century, and how well he played for it, surviving the most dangerous spell of the series. There was a century in Centurion too, his 50th. Everybody thinks this is his last tour here, everybody is wondering why.
VVS Laxman
Magical, frustrating, frustrated. Charmed everybody with arguably the innings of the series, 96 with tail in Durban. While he fulfilled the team cause, he still left without a century in South Africa. Played poor shots in similar circumstances in Centurion.
Magical, frustrating, frustrated. Charmed everybody with arguably the innings of the series, 96 with tail in Durban. While he fulfilled the team cause, he still left without a century in South Africa. Played poor shots in similar circumstances in Centurion.
Suresh Raina
Was out of his depth. Left the bat hanging outside off, and duly edged twice without bothering South Africa much. Duly played only one Test.
Was out of his depth. Left the bat hanging outside off, and duly edged twice without bothering South Africa much. Duly played only one Test.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Fought harder than the rewards showed. Had his second-innings fight, 76 minutes in fading light, approved by Laxman. Got an unplayable one from Dale Steyn in Cape Town. Will have loved a fifty from three attempts, but India will settle for the promise he showed. His close catching was special too.
Fought harder than the rewards showed. Had his second-innings fight, 76 minutes in fading light, approved by Laxman. Got an unplayable one from Dale Steyn in Cape Town. Will have loved a fifty from three attempts, but India will settle for the promise he showed. His close catching was special too.
MS Dhoni
He was stable. Counterattacked in the second innings in Centurion, regaining the spark with the bat. Was good with the gloves, calm as a leader, but not great with field placements. Criticising Sreesanth in the press seemed unlike Dhoni.
He was stable. Counterattacked in the second innings in Centurion, regaining the spark with the bat. Was good with the gloves, calm as a leader, but not great with field placements. Criticising Sreesanth in the press seemed unlike Dhoni.
Harbhajan Singh
He loved the bounce. Followed up a good New Zealand tour with another to a country where seam bowlers usually enjoy more. Was India's leading wicket-taker. Fought hard with the bat in hand.
He loved the bounce. Followed up a good New Zealand tour with another to a country where seam bowlers usually enjoy more. Was India's leading wicket-taker. Fought hard with the bat in hand.
Zaheer Khan
Provided the spark and was the turning point for India. Defending a small total, he took out South Africa's openers early in Durban, giving his team much-needed confidence. His predator-prey relationship with Smith helped.
Provided the spark and was the turning point for India. Defending a small total, he took out South Africa's openers early in Durban, giving his team much-needed confidence. His predator-prey relationship with Smith helped.
Sreesanth
Went from mercurial to messy. Had trouble with over-rates and crowds, but bowled the three best deliveries by any Indian on the trip. At crucial junctures. AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince will testify.
Went from mercurial to messy. Had trouble with over-rates and crowds, but bowled the three best deliveries by any Indian on the trip. At crucial junctures. AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince will testify.
Ishant Sharma
Never got going. Struggled with no-balls, lack of pace and movement. The odd good spell didn't translate into a turn of fortunes.
Never got going. Struggled with no-balls, lack of pace and movement. The odd good spell didn't translate into a turn of fortunes.
Jaidev Unadkat
Was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Should have been playing Ranji Trophy, where he has played only four times, as opposed to replacing Zaheer in the first match of a big series.
Was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Should have been playing Ranji Trophy, where he has played only four times, as opposed to replacing Zaheer in the first match of a big series.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at Cricinfo