India start SA tour on losing note

India has started the Test series in their tour of South Africa with a big loss. Can they reverse the flow and figure out how to win or draw the series against the second-ranked team?

The toss was a major factor. Mahendra Dhoni's unbelievably bad luck with the toss virtually decided the result of the Test, although South Africa may not have lost by as big a margin.

However, BCCI's failure to arrange even a single tour match played almost as big a role in this innings defeat for the number 1 team in the world. It was futility to cross fingers and hope that an impressive batting lineup could figure things out on the go, especially in the poor batting conditions on the first day.

Without Zaheer Khan, India's bowling had a toothless look, in sharp contrast to South Africa's world-class bowling opening attack of Steyn and Morkel. Their inability to take more than 4 South African wickets for the duration of the Test spoke for itself.

Tendulkar's fluent batting in the second innings, and attainment of his second major milestone this year that is unlikely to be reached by anybody in cricket, his 50th Test century, was the only bright spot in an otherwise forgettable match. The first one being, of course, the first double century in an ODI.

However if Australia could come back against England, then India as the best team certainly can. The return of Zaheer for the second Test in Durban, along with the much-needed "acclimatization" at the cost of the first Test may combine to see India do much better from here on out.

Given that there are only 3 Tests in the series - another baffling non-achievement by BCCI in this matchup between the top two sides in the world - India can afford to make no mistakes.