Complimenting India for sealing the four-Test rubber with a 124-run victory on a spin-friendly track in the third Test here, South Africa captain Hashim Amla said these were the "toughest conditions he had ever experienced" in his career.
"Probably these are the toughest I have experienced in my Test career. The surface was probably the toughest I have had as well, and the cricket itself was really difficult. So credit to India, they kind of bowled well and unfortunately we ended up on the wrong side of this game," said Amla at the post-match media conference.
Amla felt 200 would have been a gettable score in the last innings.
"I would think chasing 200 would have been a more apt (target). If I look at their first innings they were about 30 runs too much (if) our bowling was better, and even the second innings, I'll be very honest with you, I don't think it was a 220 first innings wicket and neither was it a 170 (wicket). We could have got India out for 140 and that probably would have changed the complexion of the game," he said.
He pointed out that like the South Africans, even Indian batsmen have struggled.
"As I said, if you look at both teams, would the same criticism be for the Indian teamIJ That's an important point for me, to take into consideration. I don't think many guys would say that Virat and Murali Vijay are not good players of spin. Obviously they are very good players of spin, but in this series so far they have also managed to find some difficulty. The quality of the Indian spinners, certainly exceptional in these conditions, and you've got to give it to them."