When India were drubbed 2-0 by the South Africans newspapers were filled with post mortems. Endless theories were espoused about what went wrong, who was to blame and finally what needs to be done. When you lose so comprehensively to a touring side it is difficult to be positive. The openers struggled, the pacemen were wayward and the spinners could not make their presence felt. There was only one positive thing to come out of the whole series. Mohammed Kaif.

India left the youngster out of the first Test and the match was over in just three days. Drafted in to the team to bolster the middle order, Kaif found himself in the company of another Mohammed - Azharuddin. In the first innings, the South African medium pacers reigned supreme. Wrecking the top order, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Nantie Hayward put fear in the minds of the Indians.

On a pitch that did not really offer much assistance to the fast bowlers, it was up to the batsmen to hold their nerve and resist the visitors. The first person to show that kind of spirit was the youngest member of the team - Mohammed Kaif.

After being knocked on the helmet most menacingly by Hayward in the match between the Board President's XI and South Africa, Kaif recovered his wits well to take on the pacemen. When Kaif came to the wicket at 77/5 India were in deep trouble. Allan Donald was at his bristling best. Testing Kaif with some well directed bouncers, Donald breathed fire, garnishing every bouncer with a few choice words.

Kaif survived. Refusing to be cowed down, Kaif would not give his wicket away. After surviving the onslaught from the quicker bowlers, Kaif relaxed his guard against Kallis. When Kallis got a ball to straighten a shade off the wicket, Kaif was unfortunately trapped LBW, ending his stout 68 minute resistance.

In the end, India were bundled out for 158 in their first innings and the match was all but lost. South Africa piled on the runs and put a stranglehold of pressure on the Indians.

The second innings was a vain attempt to salvage pride. Once again, a jaded top order was not up to the task of standing up to the South Africans. Coming in at 95/4 Kaif was once more called upon to perform a task that is an unfair ask of a youngster playing in his very first Test match. If the first innings was a hint of things to come, Kaif established without a shadow of doubt that he will be in the Test side for many years to come. The duo of Mohammeds came together and it was a case of teacher and disciple taking on the opposition. Kaif was so solid in defence that the South Africans were forced to try something different. When they did try to change things around, the steely yet supple wrists of Kaif came to the fore as he worked the ball away effortlessly. Not attempting to hit the ball too hard, Kaif was content playing to his strengths. Once again it was Kallis who ended Kaif's resistance. When he was adjudged LBW, Kaif stood fixed in the position he was struck and looked up and down the wicket. Disappointed and dejected, Kaif made the long walk back to the pavillion. Another sign of a player hungry for runs. Kaif's disappointment at being dismissed is obvious to all, irrespective of the mode of dismissal, time of dismissal or match situation.

At the end of the day, Kaif will be able to remember the second Test match of the two Test series against South Africa with pride. Not too many other Indians who played that match will be able to say the same.