oppn parties India Win Big, But Brittle Middle Order Is A Cause For Concern

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October 17, 2026

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  • Allahabad HC said that the UP Police is acting as law unto themselves as they detained a person unlawfully even before his arrest
  • Kolkata witnesses traffic snarls on the first day of the Durga Puja festival as revellers start pnadal-hopping
  • Neha Bora was subsequently released and Dipke is to appear before a magistrate today at noon
  • Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, Neha Bora of AISA, student leaders and supporters ahead of a rally in Connaught Place demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The protest followed the detention and jailing of two CJP leaders earlier in the week over demonstrations at Jantar Mantar
  • The Reserve Bank of India is considering further monetary tightening to counter capital outflows and increase the cost of betting against the rupee, according to bankers and analysts cited by Reuters. The measures follow recent rate increases and steps to drain liquidity as pressure on the currency and inflation concerns persist
  • India directed oil marketing companies to stop diverting sugar-based feedstocks for ethanol production in the 2026–27 supply year, according to a new tender issued on Friday. The companies have invited bids for 11 billion litres of ethanol made from alternatives including corn and broken rice, amid concerns about domestic sugar supplies and prices
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India's trade imbalance with China was growing sharply and attributed the problem partly to restrictions on Indian goods and services entering the Chinese market. China subsequently said it was ready to work with India to address mutual economic and trade concerns; India's trade deficit with China reached $69 billion in the first half of FY2026–27, up 27% year-on-year
  • Indian equity benchmarks extended their recovery on Friday, with the Sensex rising 413.66 points to close at 74,729.27 and the Nifty 50 gaining 148.80 points to settle at 23,146.15. Information technology shares, including Tech Mahindra, Infosys and TCS, helped lift the indices
  • India defeated Zimbabwe by four wickets in the opening women's T20 International in Raipur, taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad combined in an 82-run stand after India's top order collapsed, helping the hosts chase down Zimbabwe's total of 114 for five
  • Indian wrestler Komal won bronze in the women's 59 kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, defeating Kazakhstan's Viktoriia Khusainova 7–2. Fellow Indian Amruta Pujari advanced to the women's 72 kg final after recording two pinfall victories
  • Indian shuttler Jagsher Singh Khangurra secured a bronze medal at the BWF World Junior Badminton Championships in Cairo
  • The Supreme Court of India upheld the Bombay High Court's decision quashing the 2020 write-off of ₹8,415 crore in additional tier-1 bonds issued by Yes Bank (Yes Bank). The court ruled that the bank's administrator lacked the authority to extinguish the bonds under the final reconstruction scheme, strengthening bondholders' claims
  • The Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission of India, Delhi Police and opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, in separate petitions concerning electoral-roll revision and protests held in Delhi on October 10–12. The court also directed the preservation of CCTV footage linked to allegations of police excesses
  • The Supreme Court ruled that a person converting from Hinduism to Islam cannot automatically claim backward-class reservation benefits in the new religious community solely on the basis of their previous caste status. The judgment upheld the Madras High Court's decision striking down a 2024 Tamil Nadu government order that permitted such certification for specified communities
  • The Election Commission of India ordered a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in 14 states and three Union Territories, using January 1, 2027, as the qualifying date for voter eligibility. The draft rolls are scheduled for publication on November 12, claims and objections will be accepted until December 11, and the final rolls are due on January 4, 2027
Delhi HC refuses to ban CJP's Tiranga rally at Central Park in Connaught Place today /////// Police says will control and regulate it /////// NDMC closes the park for the public on Friday and Saturday
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India Win Big, But Brittle Middle Order Is A Cause For Concern

By Slogger
First publised on 2021-12-31 06:37:41

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.

India breached Fort Centurion and became the first Asian nation to record a Test win at the ground by thrashing South Africa by 113 runs in the first Test. On a pitch that afforded uneven bounce and much purchase to the seamers, the India bowlers proved (although given their performance for the last few years, it no longer requires proving) that they are capable of bowling out the opposition twice in a Test anywhere in the world.

The toss proved crucial once again and when India posted in excess of 300 in the first innings, they immediately gained an upper hand against the largely inexperienced South African side. The Indian opening pair of KL Rahul and Mayanak Agarwal frustrated the opposition bowlers by notching up a century plus opening stand. Although the India middle and lower order, barring Ajinkye Rahane who scored a patient 48, caved in once again. Captain Virat Kohli (35) once again wasted a good start.

The Indian bowlers then got into the act and dismissed the South Africans for just 197. Mohammed Shami was at his devastating best (prompting Virat Kohli to say that he is among the top three bowlers in the world today), taking 5 for 44. Barring Bavuma and De Cock, and a late charge by Rabada, none of the batters stayed at the wicket for any length of time.

India's second innings showed how far the pitch had deteriorated. They were dismissed for 174 with a-run-a-ball 34 late in the innings by Rishabh Pant giving the bowlers something to bowl at. India set SA a target of 305 but it was clear that they would not get to it.

Jasprit Bumrah and Md Siraj were the chief wreckers in the South African second innings, with support from Shami and Ashwin. Skipper Dean Edgar (77) tired to play the role of sheet anchor to ward off defeat and found some support from Bavuma and De Cock but the relentless on-spot bowling by the Indians was too much to handle. They were excellently backed by the fielders.

While the Indian bowlers brought glory to the country, there were too many negatives on the batting front. Pujara and Rahane continue to display hesitancy and given the bench strength the team management will have to take a decision soon on whether they should be persisted with. Kohli will also have to make adjustments to his batting and ensure that he does not waste good starts. The absence of a good allrounder is also hurting India. Despite the resounding win, India will have to address these problems going into the second Test.

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