Category: cricket

India’s aspirations of breaking through the “final frontier,” where no Indian team has won a series in the last 31 years, were dashed on Thursday when they lost the opening game of the two-match Test series against South Africa by an innings and 32 runs.

Except for KL Rahul, the Indian batsmen found it difficult to adjust to the bouncing and swinging conditions at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium in Centurion. Meanwhile, the Indian bowlers did not apply enough pressure, which allowed the Proteas to post a massive first innings total of over 400 runs.

While telling the new players to be appreciative of the opportunity they have been given, India captain Rohit Sharma was extremely critical of the Indian bowling lineup for giving up too many runs in the opening innings.

After the game, Rohit stated (as cited by PTI) “We gave too many runs and this was not a 400-run wicket.” We sprayed the ball everywhere, but things still happen. We could learn from how South Africa bowled since one cannot rely solely on one bowler (Bumrah); the other three pacers all had to fulfil their tasks.”

The Indian captain was grateful for Jasprit Bumrah’s contribution, too, as he claimed four wickets at an economy rate of less than three per over during the nearly 27 overs bowled. “Bumrah bowled well, and we all know his quality,” Rohit remarked. He only needed a little assistance, which he did not receive. That takes place. All three put in a lot of effort and bent their backs, but the desired outcome was not achieved. However, these kinds of games teach you a lot about what you want to accomplish as a bowling team.”

In addition, Rohit offered some guidance to the young Indian players who had the opportunity to play against South Africa on the big stage: show gratitude and do what’s best for the team. “You should be grateful and come out and do the job for the team when you get the chance,” he remarked. Prasadh Krishna obviously didn’t get along with it, and just as we would all have been anxious when playing our first game, he would have been too.

“These things happen, the guy has game to excel but we will back him and has a great attitude about his game which holds us in good stead going forward.” The skipper of India stated.

With over two days remaining, South Africa defeated the first Test by an innings and 32 runs, shattering Rohit Sharma’s team’s dreams of making history in this country and securing a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The second innings for India lasted a mere 34.1 overs.

Earlier, South Africa took a 163 lead after a fantastic innings by Dean Elgar (185, 287b, 28×4). They did this without the services of captain Temba Bavuma, who departed the pitch during the first session of the match due to a hamstring issue.

After that, it was always going to be a tough climb. However, few could have predicted that India would fall so quickly or so dramatically.

India had little chance of stopping pace sensation Kagiso Rabada and his three less experienced teammates. The students and the teacher split the loot.

The South African pacers claimed the wickets of all but one of the Indian hitters, Jasprit Bumrah being run out while trying to score a second run that never happened.

Even though he was a part of the confusion, Virat Kohli (76, 82b, 12×4, 1×6) was powerless to stop the amazing collapse that was happening all around him.

The start of India’s second innings wasn’t great. Once more, Rabada defeated his archenemy, Rohit Sharma, with a stunning stroke that angled in, beat the Indian skipper all the way to the finish, and rattled his stumps.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made a great debut in the West Indies earlier this year, is learning a lot about Test match cricket. However, he was also hit hard by a ball that was delivered by Nandre Burger, a left-arm fast who was making his debut. The ball climbed steeply and the opener was unable to remove his gloves.

Burgers are turning out to be a delicious addition to the illustrious history of fast bowling in South Africa. Additionally, he claimed K.L. Rahul, one of the most valuable Indian wickets.

Before Burger created an outside advantage, the centurion could only muster four runs in the first inning. After Rahul was dismissed, only 96 had passed since nearly half of the team had returned to the dressing room.

The scorecard for India was painful to read. Shubman Gill was the only player to score in double figures besides Kohli. Before being thoroughly embarrassed by Marco Jansen, who appeared to have transferred his batting form from earlier in the day to his bowling, his 26-run innings appeared promising.

Jansen scored a career-high 84 not out (147b, 11×4, 1×6), and the Proteas would rely heavily on his 111-run partnership with Elgar. After rejoining at 256 for five at night, the pair persisted in frustrating the Indian bowlers, Bumrah foremost among them.

He bowled exceptionally effectively to collect four for 69 in his first Test match in more than a year and a half. But the bowlers from South Africa would soon surpass him.

On Wednesday, the sun hardly appeared. That was insignificant, though, as two brilliant hundreds illuminated the SuperSport Park on the second day of the first Test.

If India appeared to have posted a respectable total in the earlier part of the day thanks to K.L. Rahul (101, 137b, 14×4, 4×6), Dean Elgar (140 batting, 211b, 23×4) made sure South Africa was ahead. At stumps, the advantage was eleven for the host, who was 256 for five.

Covers on the ground had welcomed the players earlier, but it only took 25 minutes for cricket to start. Rahul was had to remain longer at the difficult wicket for India, which came back in at 208 for eight. He carried that out with flair.

Similar to what Pat Cummins has been doing lately, his teammate Mohammed Siraj held on for a long. When the seamer, who contributed five runs, was caught behind off Gerald Coetzee, their ninth wicket partnership was worth 47.

In order to get his hundred, Rahul now required some assistance from Prasidh Krishna, a rookie and colleague from Karnataka. He complied, and the two quickly parted ways, setting Rahul up for another confrontation with Coetzee.

He achieved his hundred by swinging the youthful fast ball over mid-wicket for a six off the final ball of the over. Rahul has scored his second hundred in as many Tests at Centurion, and it appears that this venue is for him what Lord’s was for Dilip Vengsarkar.

And that should rank among his worst career setbacks. He performed superbly against a dangerous Kagiso Rabada on a challenging ground in challenging circumstances, supported by three other pacers, and with the Indian innings in poor shape.

He made excellent defensive plays, chose the appropriate balls to hit, and executed his hits with impressive control. His century came two years ago as an opener, and he is now a middle-order, wicketkeeper batsman, demonstrating his adaptability.

Rahul may not have astonished anybody with his flare and fluidity. A number of people were taken aback by Elgar’s desire to score and the regularity of his fluid drives, though.

At the conclusion of the series, the opener has declared his retirement from international cricket. The 36-year-old still had some cricket left in him based on the manner he batted. The fact that he was able to secure a Test century at his home ground at last should provide him special satisfaction.

Not all Proteas batters displayed as beautiful strokeplay as he did. David Bedingham, making his debut, batted well as well (56, 87b, 7×4, 2×6). It has taken him 86 First Class matches to be granted this chance.

Bedingham may have been taken into consideration sooner, based on his innings. As he and Elgar put up 131 runs for the fourth wicket, he exuded confidence and comfort.

Siraj gave India a head start by forcing Aiden Markram to edge a delivery that was moving away too late. Then, with Keegan Petersen playing on, Jasprit Bumrah got Tony de Zorzi, who had just emerged victorious from the ODI series, caught at slip. For India, the delight was short-lived.

Before rain stopped play on Day 1, KL Rahul showed incredible fortitude by leading India to 208/8 with the tail of the bat. His brave fifty-five put the score over 200, an impressive achievement when hitting 150 looked difficult. Unfortunately, bad light and rain eventually dashed India’s hopes of a resumed play and forced early stumps on Day 1 amidst unrelenting deluge.

On the first day of the Boxing Day Test against India, South Africa had a strong start. India was put to bat first after they had won the toss. In the first eleven overs, India lost their top three players. Since then, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer have both been caught. The two got comfortable with their innings and helped India reach lunch. At the end of the first session, the score was 91/3, and Kohli and Iyer’s partnership was at 67 off 89 balls. Rain was predicted, so it was anticipated to be a sporadic day, but the sun was shining at SuperSport Park.

After lunch, Rabada upset the Indian batting order by quickly dismissing Iyer and then Kohli. To reach his four-wicket total, he then removed Ashwin from the game. Since Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen have found it difficult to maintain the same level of play, India benefited from Rahul and Shardul Thakur sucking runs off the duo while Rabada had a break. But Rabada came back, and in his opening over, he dismissed Thakur. Rahul then carried India through to tea by rotating strikes with Bumrah. On the first day, India was 176/7 at Tea after 50 overs, with Rahul scoring 39 off 71.

With two fours and a six off the final two balls of the 52nd over, Rahul reached his half-century with style early in the third session. Wet areas across the field earlier in the day caused a 45-minute delay in the toss.

In South Africa, winning is not easy. For India, things become harder. Their spinners seldom ever make an impression in these conditions, and their hitters have one of the worst records here. They have never prevailed in a Test series in South Africa as a team. India has played 23 Test matches in South Africa since 1996, winning just four of them and never more than once in a series.

They are still the third-most successful side in South Africa, behind England and Australia, despite this. Playing South Africa in South Africa is that difficult. Having said that, India has nearly always outperformed South Africa throughout their tours here over the past ten years or so. Many thought India was the stronger of the two teams when they visited there the previous time. They performed admirably as well, but South Africa’s comeback in the fourth innings prevented India from winning the series twice.

Rahul completed his century on Day 2, he scored 101 in 137 balls and India scored 245 runs in the first innings.

India defeated South Africa by 78 runs on Thursday at Boland Park in Paarl, clinching the three-match ODI series 2-1, thanks to Sanju Samson’s first-ever century in international cricket and Arshdeep Singh’s four-wicket haul.

South Africa was off to a great start chasing 297 after Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi quickly put up a 59-run opening stand. Hendricks was then forced to play away from his body by Arshdeep, who then edged a catch behind the wicketkeeper.

Even though de Zorzi kept up his impressive form, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel’s spin duo defeated Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen, respectively.

Then, Arshdeep used a yorker to trap de Zorzi up front. Hard-hitters Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller failed to score runs as South Africa lost its final six wickets for a mere 57 runs.

Rajat Patidar, making his batting debut, was off the blocks fast earlier. In the course of three deliveries, he destroyed Nandre Burger for a six and a four before being cleaned up in the same over.

Shortly after, Sai Sudharsan, fresh off two consecutive half-centuries, lost his life. During their 52-run partnership for the third wicket, Samson and captain KL Rahul steadied the ship. After Rahul left, Tilak Varma teamed up with Samson, and the left-hander scored his first fifty runs in an ODI.

After a sluggish start, Samson quickly picked up speed to score a century off of 110 balls and put India on track for a respectable total. With a blistering 27-ball 38, Rinku Singh contributed to the visitor’s match-winning total.