Nagpur, Feb 9: Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday admitted that his team was completely outplayed by South Africans, as they crashed to an innings and six runs defeat on the fourth day of the Nagpur Test.
“We were completely outplayed. We are on the back foot, they can’t lose the series now. So, we are under pressure, but this is India, we are always under pressure. The last time they came, they were ahead and in the same position,” Dhoni said.
Dhoni also appreciated South African fast bowler Dale Steyn’s ten-wicket haul, and said that the Indian batsman had no answer to his outstanding spells.
“Seven of the 14 dismissals were out to great deliveries ... the ball was changed in the tea break on Monday and we lost five quick wickets. It changed everything,” he said.
Steyn’s seven-wicket haul in the first innings had forced India to follow-on, as it had made sure that the home team was at some distance from the imposing South African total of 558-6 declared.
Trailing by 325 runs, Sachin Tendulkar’s masterly 46th Test century could not stop South Africa from bowling India out for 319.
Steyn took seven for 51 runs and three for 57 in the match.
The two teams now move to Kolkata for the second and final Test of the series to be played from February 14.
India’s number one Test ranking is in danger of being handed over to South Africa if they lose the series while a draw will see them retain the top spot.
© ANI
