Virat Kohli reacts after taking a catch to dismiss SA's Quinton de Kock for a duck on the first day of the second Test at Centurion.  Pic: AP/PTI

Trailing two-nil in South Africa is not the disaster it needs to be. With long-term vision, the series can still be a glass half-full for India if they can learn and execute the lessons when they tour Australia at the end of the year. Whilst the Proteas play cricket in a more dignified manner, the pitches and style of cricket have remarkable similarities to what India will face Down Under later this year. A tour of Australia is not a place to learn on the fly. India need to hit the ground running because to concede momentum in Australia is to virtually surrender the Border Gavaskar Trophy at the outset.