<p>In response to South Africa’s captain Dean Elgar’s choice to bat first in the second Test match against India, former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar voiced his astonishment on Wednesday. South Africa was bowled out for 55 against India, their lowest total, as Elgar’s call proved to be misguided.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-337417″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-day-1-chaos-in-the-first-test-sunil-gavaskar-was-taken-aback-by-south-africas-stun.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com day 1 chaos in the first test sunil gavaskar was taken aback by south africas stun” width=”871″ height=”488″ title=”Day 1 Chaos in the First Test: Sunil Gavaskar Was Taken Aback by South Africa's Stunning Call 12″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-day-1-chaos-in-the-first-test-sunil-gavaskar-was-taken-aback-by-south-africas-stun.jpg 300w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-day-1-chaos-in-the-first-test-sunil-gavaskar-was-taken-aback-by-south-africas-stun-150×84.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 871px) 100vw, 871px” /></p>
<p>Before losing their last six wickets for no runs to finish all out for 153, India seemed to be in a commanding position, but their lead after one innings was down to only 98 runs. “To be honest, I was a little taken aback by what transpired,” Gavaskar said during his Star Sports match analysis.</p>
<p>“Because a lot of times, captains and coaches make a big deal about what the pitch is gonna be…”</p>
<p>Gavaskar believed that South Africa had the ideal chance to get the upper hand by starting them on a new surface after completely destroying India in the first Test in three days.</p>
<p>Going to bat first on a new surface might have been a little defensive, but Gavaskar said, “I think you’ve also got to look at the psychology of the Indian team, having been defeated in three days, having batted so poorly in the second innings.”</p>
<p>“And it occurred to me that South Africans, who have fast bowlers in their lineup, might try to insert them in order to capitalize on the fact that they haven’t played any cricket in between,” he said.</p>
<p>Gavaskar also mentioned the Australia Test match in Adelaide, when India was bowled out for 36 runs before mounting a remarkable recovery in the Melbourne Test to win the four-match series 2-1 in 2020–21.</p>
<p>“A similar incident occurred in Australia two years before when India was defeated for 36 points. “The following Test match was held in Melbourne, with a pitch that had three millimeters more grass than Adelaide’s,” he said.</p>
