India vs South Africa 2nd Test: Final day's play washed out as match ends in dreary draw

The spin twins of India doing the damage, AB De Villiers playing a wonderful innings, Shikhar Dhawan showing signs of returning to form – we had it all in one day of play. And then, the rain came, the rain stayed, the drizzle came, the drizzle stayed, puddles formed on the ground and refused to dry and as a result the final four days of the second Test match in Bengaluru was washed out.

AB De Villiers will not look back at his 100^th Test match too fondly, even if he did make a delightful 85 on day one on Saturday. After the second, third and fourth day's play was called off without a ball being bowled, the same fate fell on the final day as well, with the umpires deciding to end everyone's misery at 11.30 am IST.

There was no rain on Wednesday morning, with a little sunshine poking out every now and then as well. However, after an initial inspection at 10 am – before which the drizzle had come again -- the umpires decided to hold another one at 11.30 am, but the persistent return of the drizzle pretty much ensured no play at all would be possible.

The officials eventually decided going on with a Test match that was anyway headed for a draw did not make much sense, especially with the possibility of players getting injured on a wet(ish) outfield.

India were the favourites to lock in an unconquerable 2-0 series lead, after bowling South Africa for just 214, and then finishing day one (how long ago does that seem now) on 80/0.

South Africa will definitely be the more relieved team to come out with a draw from this Test match, as their batsmen, again, struggled against the spin of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

The India openers would have fancied themselves to continue scoring runs, had play on day two, or any other day for that matter, been possible.

However, the positive from the batting viewpoint for India is that Dhawan scored a few runs and showed a little restraint in not playing those balls outside off stump.

South Africa, though, will recoup and come back hard at India in the third Test in Nagpur, with Dale Steyn, most probably, fit and ready for that as well.