"We saw this against West Indies as well" - Former opener slams India's bowlers for inept show on Day 2 of 2nd IND vs SA 2025 Test

Former opener Aakash Chopra criticized India's bowlers for their lackluster performance on Day 2 of the Guwahati Test against South Africa. According to Chopra, India's bowling lacked creativity on a flat surface and it seemed like they were waiting for the batters to commit a mistake.

South Africa completely dominated Day 2 of the second Test against India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, November 23. Resuming their second innings on 247-6, they went on to post 489 as Senuran Muthusamy scored 109 and Marco Jansen 93.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra raised big questions on India's bowling performance in the first innings of the Guwahati Test. He commented:

"If there is a lot of help for bowlers on a pitch, we criticize the batters. If it's a seaming pitch, then something like what happened in Perth happens. If it's a spin-friendly surface, then something like what happened in Eden Gardens happens. But, if the pitch is flat, then do bowlers have no plans? Are they actually bereft of ideas?

Pointing out that something similar happened in the second Test against West Indies in Delhi, the cricketer-turned-analyst added:

"We saw this against the West Indies as well at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. When we had to bowl a lot of overs, we couldn't bowl out West Indies all that easily. The field placement becomes defensive. We keep waiting for mistakes. That is exactly how we played in Guwahati. The pitch is good. If the opposition batters dig in, you put the fielders back. Lack of creativity can be seen."

Made to follow-on in the second Test in Delhi, West Indies batted for 118.5 overs in their second innings and scored 390 runs. John Campbell scored 115 and Shai Hope 103. India, however, managed to win the Test by seven wickets.

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"A little bit of creative captaincy was needed" - Aakash Chopra on India's bowling performance on Day 2 of 2nd IND vs SA 2025 Test

Sharing further thoughts on India's poor bowling effort on Day 2 in Guwahati, Chopra opined that their performance needs to be questioned. He reckoned that bowlers have stopped thinking too much since they play on a number of surfaces where taking wickets is easy. The 48-year-old elaborated:

"Bowlers get so many friendly pitches on which they get quick wickets. That's why there are not able to bowl long spells or come up with something creative. This is a problem, like the chicken and egg story. If such bowling happens, you move towards extreme pitches on which the bowlers can at least pick wickets. But then, the ploy has backfired as well on the team.

"As much as we criticize the batters, bowlers also need to come under scrutiny. On this pitch, there could have been slightly better bowling and a little bit of creative captaincy was needed," Chopra concluded.

Responding to South Africa's first-innings total of 489, India went to stumps at 9-0. The hosts need to beat the Proteas in Guwahati to avoid another Test series defeat in home conditions.