Virat Kohli returned to the Indian Test team with a valiant 38 before Kagiso Rabada took his wicket. The former Indian captain was dismissed fishing outside off stump, a form of dismissal he has done often.
India were bowled out for 245 in the first innings after KL Rahul scored his eighth Test ton. He scored 101 off 137 deliveries after India were 208/8 overnight. Rahul almost played a single hand with the lower order linking two crucial partnerships and taking India to 200-plus.
By the way, the field performed well from the beginning, 245 seemed like a difficult target. South Africa lost the wicket of Aiden Markram early to give India hope that the wicket could help get the batsmen out cheaply. Dean Elgar and Tony de Zorzi (28 off 62) added a 93-run stand to keep the hosts in the hunt to chase the Indian score of 245.
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As the Indian bowlers struggled to make a breakthrough, it took Virat Kohli to work his magic to bring about India’s crucial breakthrough. Between overs, Kohli changed bails from the final over where Zorzi was about to face the next over. Just two balls after Kohli changed bails, Jasprit Bumrah managed to dismiss the left-hander and bowled him to the slip cordon. Yashasvi Jaiswal took a safe catch to send Zorzi back to the pavilion.
Watch – Virat Kohli works his magic by changing bails
– Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (@Hanji_CricDekho) December 27, 2023
The black magic man is here!! pic.twitter.com/e11U2PNiYQ
— SPY (@Kohli_Spy) December 27, 2023
GREAT WICKET!#JaspritBumrah breaks a stubborn 93-run stand to get the precious ground of #TonyDeZorzi.
A much-needed wicket for #TeamIndia.Tune in #SAvIND 1st test
LIVE NOW | Star Sports Network#Cricket pic.twitter.com/IY3LVS80Ov– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 27, 2023
Soon after India took the wicket of Zorzi, Bumrah struck again to dismiss Keegan Petersen as South Africa lost two wickets in quick succession, allowing India to get back into the game.
Earlier in the day, India resumed their innings at 208/8 and added 37 more runs. India were finally bowled out for 245 soon after KL Rahul scored his eighth Test ton.
Talking about the Test match, it is the first of the two-match Test series in which India is looking to win its first Test series on South African soil. None of the previous Indian captains have been able to win a Test series in this part of the world. Rohit Sharma now has a chance to change the script if he manages to lead his team to victory in the series.
The Test series against South Africa kicks off India’s 2023-25 WTC cycle. India reached the final of the last two world test championships. They lost to New Zealand in the 2021 WTC final and then to Australia in the 2023 WTC final. India is the number one ranked Test team heading into this series, while South Africa is ranked fourth. The Men in Blue also top the WTC 2023 points table.
India were whitewashed in the ODI series when they toured South Africa last time in 2021-22. They also lost the Test series 2-1. After winning the Centurion Test, where KL Rahul scored a ton, India lost their next two games.
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