Can India Rise To The Away' Challenge In Cape Town?

Conditions in Cape Town are expected to be like Centurion, but Rohit will hope his team has learnt from the first Test debacle

- Ashish Magotra

Will the new year see India find a way to shed a whole new light on an approach that could see them finally get their act right in away Tests? Much of what we saw in the first Test at the Centurion had the old-timers shaking their heads and reminiscing the 1990s - India's batters were in no mood to stay in the middle and the pacers (after raising our spirits over the last five years) crashed back into the ground with a resounding thud.

The margin of defeat, an innings and 32 runs, had a story of its own to tell, and in its own way also set the agenda for the second and final Test of the series which begins in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan made this point on FOX Cricket panel during the Australia-Pakistan second Test at the MCG on Friday. "Here's a question for you: India, in terms of cricket, are they one of the most underachieving sports teams in the world?" Vaughan said. "With all the talent they have, I think they are, yeah. Well, they do not win anything. When was the last time they won something? With all the talent they have, all the skillsets... they won here (Australia) twice, magnificent but the last few World Cups, been nowhere, T20 World Cups, nowhere. You go to South Africa, who are, you know, useful in Test match cricket and to produce a performance like that... I mean, with all the talent they have, and the resources they have, I do not think they win anything."