Faf du Plessis explains why the Proteas were completely dominated in the Freedom Series.

REPORT: INDIA DOMINATE SOUTH AFRICA

It was a nightmare of a series for the Proteas in India. Three Tests and massive defeats, with India wrapping up a 3-0 whitewash with an innings and 202-run defeat.

Not only did the Proteas fail to score runs, but they also failed to bowl out India on four occasions.

“That’s the frustrating part of the tour. There were some really good signs, but it went the other way,” said Du Plessis.

“Every Test, we made more mistakes. But we have to give credit to the Indian team. They were ruthless and they were better than us in every department – spin bowling, fast bowling, batting and even the fielding. They are a difficult team to overcome.”

The difference in this series was the dominance of the Indian seamers. Usually, in the past, the seamers were used to rough the ball up so that the spinners could utilise the dusty pitches to dominate sides.

In this series, it was the Indian seam duo that complimented their spinners, with Mohammed Shami taking 13 wickets in the series.

“(On Indian pace) The mindset after 2015 was to prepare ourselves for really spinning tracks, but it’s been the opposite,” said Du Plessis.

“Really sporting tracks – fantastic for fast bowlers and even for batsmen. There’s a lot to learn for us.”

Du Plessis went on to compare bowling on Indian pitches vs South Africa.

“I think it’s the skill of the bowlers. They have a skiddy nature and they hit the right spots and the stumps at all times,” he added.

“Those are the things we talked about before we came here, but naturally the length in South Africa has to be a little shorter, and that takes time to adjust.”

But what were the positives?

“It’s important that we have some young guys, and they’ll experience this in 3-4 years time again,” he concluded.

“It was important for us to take something back again. We have to learn to compete the next time again.

“This is the toughest tour on the circuit…11 series wins in a row bears testament to that.”