In the land of spin, Anil Kumble is certainly the king. The third-highest wicket-taker in the world, he has been India’s biggest match-winner at home — 346 of his 607 wickets have come in 60 Tests in India, including 25 five-wicket hauls and seven 10-wicket hauls.

He, along with Harbhajan Singh, was expected to torment the visiting South African side, a team that has traditionally packed up in the face of quality spin bowling.

However, things haven’t gone quite according to script. The two bowled a total of 132 overs between them in Chennai. In 65 overs over two innings, Kumble managed just three wickets. And while Harbhajan did pick up a match-bag of eight, he didn’t weave the proverbial web around any of the visiting batsmen.

Kumble believes that the South Africans have gotten better in terms of dealing with conditions here and countering spin.

“I think the bowlers did the best you could possibly do on this pitch. There’s a big difference between the way the South Africans played the first time they came here and now. They have travelled well and now understand the conditions,” he said.

Even India’s new coach Gary Kirsten believes that South Africa are an improved lot. “They have come well prepared. They know what to expect,” said Kirsten.

And Kumble didn’t think the Chennai pitch helped either.

“We expected the wicket to have more pace and spin. We thought it would start turning on the fourth and fifth days, but it did not. It was tough to bowl on a pitch as flat as this and in such heat.

... contd.