'Why didn't Shardul and Bumrah bowl after lunch?' - Sunil Gavaskar questions India's tactics in Cape Town Test

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has criticised Team India's post-lunch session tactics on Day 4 of the series-deciding third Test against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town. Gavaskar's remarks came after the Virat Kohli-led suffered a seven-wicket defeat on the penultimate day of the contest.

With this loss, the Indian team squandered an early lead that they had taken during the series-opener in Centurion and their wait to register a maiden Test series triumph in the 'Rainbow Nation' continues.

It was a mystery to me: Sunil Gavaskar

"It was a mystery to me why Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah did not bowl after lunch. It was almost as if India had decided that they are not going to win this" said Sunil Gavaskar while speaking on the Star Sports network as quoted by Sportskeeda.

"The field placements there were for Ashwin was not right... There were singles available easily. Five fielders were in the deep. Let the batters take a chance. That is your only opportunity to get them out", the cricketer-turned-broadcaster added.

Coming back to the contest, South Africa had lost the wicket of skipper Dean Elgar just before stumps on Day 3 and when play resumed on Day 4, a set Keegan Petersen and new man Rassie van der Dussen started on a cautious note before taking the attack to the Indian bowlers and even though Petersen was castled by Shardul Thakur, van der Dussen along with Temba Bavuma ensured that there were no further hiccups for the Proteas.

Even luck went their way including surviving a DRS scare and a couple of dropped chances as they successfully chased down the 212-run target to seal the three-match series 2-1. Keegan Petersen was adjudged the Player of the Series for scoring 276 runs including three half-centuries averaging 46 with his highest score being 82.