There has been a pattern to the two ODIs of the series. India lose the toss, Virat Kohli hits a ton to take the team total to around or over 350, before a bizarre second half unfolds. With the heavy dew making it difficult for the Indian spinners to grip the ball, the game would become more of a battle against the conditions than about foxing the South African batsmen.

At around the 25-overs mark in the chase, the wintry night-time conditions in central India gave the ball the feel of a wet soap, making it impossible for the spinners to work their fingers on the leather to give it a tweak. The pitches in this series, as expected, have been typically flat so the surface too is not a friend for the bowlers. Defanged under lights, they live on a prayer, waiting for the batsman to make a mi

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