India, Nov. 26 -- There was more hope than expectation. Hope for a show of character. Hope for resilience. Hope for better application. If not for anything else, then in retaliation for an unnecessary "really wanted to make them grovel" jibe from the opposition head coach. But cricket matches are not won, or even drawn, on hope. It needs all of the above and a bit of class. Dare we say, barring some brief spark from Ravindra Jadeja, India showed none. Their meek surrender on Day 5 in the second Test against South Africa rang loud in the empty stands of the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

Having an improbable task of batting out four sessions, India were bundled out for 140 in their second innings as South Africa won the second Test by 408...