The latest edition of the ICC Under-19 ODI World Cup has begun in New Zealand from the 13th of January amidst a lot of anticipation. After all, this is the one tournament where we get to witness the stars of tomorrow in action and it is always fascinating to observe the young plethora of talent from the world over.

While the tournament is underway, there are a lot of players who are likely to leave a mark. Here is a look at five exciting young talents who will certainly be worth keeping an eye out for in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2018.

Shubman Gill (India)

Although Indian captain Prithwi Shaw is at the centre of all attention in this tournament, another young lad from the team who is likely to leave a mark is Shubman Gill from Punjab. The stylish middle-order batsman first made news when he slammed a majestic 351 off 271 balls in the Punjab Inter-District Under-16 tournament. Carrying his form from there, Gill also scored a double hundred on his Under-16 state debut for Punjab in the Vijay Merchant Trophy soon after. Blessed with a good technique and having a great attacking game, Gill currently averages an astounding 97.76 in Under-19 ODIs. Certainly, there is something about this batsman.

Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)

The Sri Lankan captain is playing his second straight U-19 ODI World Cup and is now well-renowned for his ambidextrous spin bowling skills. Kamindu Mendis can bowl both left and right arm spin and is equally proficient with both. Ever since he first displayed this rare skill in the last World Cup, Mendis has been hot property in Sri Lankan cricket and is being looked as the future bowling star for the country. Mendis is also a solid middle-order batsman and already has four half-centuries in Under-19 ODIs. It will be interesting to see how this ambidextrous spin bowler displays his unique craft in the upcoming tournament.&nbsp;

Baheer Shah (Afghanistan)

If there is one U-19 cricketer this year who has created sensation the world over, it is Afghanistan&rsquo;s Baheer Shah. The 18-year-old commenced his career by slamming a record 256 in his maiden first-class match - the second highest debut score in the format. If one thought this was a fluke, Baheer proved it otherwise by striking a spectacular triple hundred five innings later and, thus, became the second youngest first-class triple centurion. Baheer&rsquo;s first-class average at present is a Bradmanesue 121.77 after 7 matches. With those glittering feats he has already achieved, the young Afghani batsman will surely be under a lot of focus this World Cup.

Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

Pakistan&rsquo;s ability to churn fast bowling sensations literally out of nowhere is remarkable. Shaheen Afridi seems to be another one in that burgeoning list. In his very first match in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, (Pakistan&rsquo;s first-class domestic tournament) Shaheen grabbed a stunning 8-39 &ndash; the best figures by a Pakistani bowler on first-class debut &ndash; that destroyed the opposition. A fan of Pakistani legend Wasim Akram, this left-arm pacer is clearly inspired by his hero and has modeled his action on him and Australian speedster Mitchell Starc. With an ability to bring the ball into the right-handers and getting good pace and bounce, Shaheen Afridi will definitely be a major threat to batsmen this World Cup.&nbsp;

Jason Sangha (Australia)

The Australian team captain in this tournament is a confident young batsman and is the first Indian-origin cricketer to be leading an Australian side. Sangha caught the eye of the selectors with his performance against England in the pre-Ashes tour game in 2016 where he struck a superb hundred and at 18 years and 71 days became the youngest cricketer since Sachin Tendulkar to score a first-class century against England. Sangha&rsquo;s performances throughout the 2015 season were exceptional in youth cricket and he amassed runs in whatever tournament he played in during that phase. His strokeplay is suited for all formats and he has even got a BBL contract from Sydney Thunder. How he leads the Australian side in this World Cup while focusing on his own batting will be intriguing to watch.

The ICC U-19 World Cup has produced real stars of today like Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, and Hashim Amla, to name a few. With the tournament having gone bigger and attracting more attention now, the pressure to perform on the young stars in the event would be that much more.&nbsp; But the modern game having evolved so much, young cricketers today are truly fearless. The ICC U-19 World Cup 2018 will hence surely be one exhilarating tournament to watch. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

The ICC U-19 World Cup has produced real stars of today like Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, and Hashim Amla, to name a few.

The latest edition of the ICC Under-19 ODI World Cup has begun in New Zealand from the 13th of January amidst a lot of anticipation. After all, this is the one tournament where we get to witness the stars of tomorrow in action and it is always fascinating to observe the young plethora of talent from the world over. While the tournament is underway, there are a lot of players who are likely to leave a mark. Here is a look at five exciting young talents who will certainly be worth keeping an eye out for in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2018. Shubman Gill (India) Although Indian captain Prithwi Shaw is at the centre of all attention in this tournament, another young lad from the team who is likely to leave a mark is Shubman Gill from Punjab. The stylish middle-order batsman first made news when he slammed a majestic 351 off 271 balls in the Punjab Inter-District Under-16 tournament. Carrying his form from there, Gill also scored a double hundred on his Under-16 state debut for Punjab in the Vijay Merchant Trophy soon after. Blessed with a good technique and having a great attacking game, Gill currently averages an astounding 97.76 in Under-19 ODIs. Certainly, there is something about this batsman. Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka) The Sri Lankan captain is playing his second straight U-19 ODI World Cup and is now well-renowned for his ambidextrous spin bowling skills. Kamindu Mendis can bowl both left and right arm spin and is equally proficient with both. Ever since he first displayed this rare skill in the last World Cup, Mendis has been hot property in Sri Lankan cricket and is being looked as the future bowling star for the country. Mendis is also a solid middle-order batsman and already has four half-centuries in Under-19 ODIs. It will be interesting to see how this ambidextrous spin bowler displays his unique craft in the upcoming tournament. Baheer Shah (Afghanistan) If there is one U-19 cricketer this year who has created sensation the world over, it is Afghanistan’s Baheer Shah. The 18-year-old commenced his career by slamming a record 256 in his maiden first-class match - the second highest debut score in the format. If one thought this was a fluke, Baheer proved it otherwise by striking a spectacular triple hundred five innings later and, thus, became the second youngest first-class triple centurion. Baheer’s first-class average at present is a Bradmanesue 121.77 after 7 matches. With those glittering feats he has already achieved, the young Afghani batsman will surely be under a lot of focus this World Cup. Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) Pakistan’s ability to churn fast bowling sensations literally out of nowhere is remarkable. Shaheen Afridi seems to be another one in that burgeoning list. In his very first match in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, (Pakistan’s first-class domestic tournament) Shaheen grabbed a stunning 8-39 – the best figures by a Pakistani bowler on first-class debut – that destroyed the opposition. A fan of Pakistani legend Wasim Akram, this left-arm pacer is clearly inspired by his hero and has modeled his action on him and Australian speedster Mitchell Starc. With an ability to bring the ball into the right-handers and getting good pace and bounce, Shaheen Afridi will definitely be a major threat to batsmen this World Cup. Jason Sangha (Australia) The Australian team captain in this tournament is a confident young batsman and is the first Indian-origin cricketer to be leading an Australian side. Sangha caught the eye of the selectors with his performance against England in the pre-Ashes tour game in 2016 where he struck a superb hundred and at 18 years and 71 days became the youngest cricketer since Sachin Tendulkar to score a first-class century against England. Sangha’s performances throughout the 2015 season were exceptional in youth cricket and he amassed runs in whatever tournament he played in during that phase. His strokeplay is suited for all formats and he has even got a BBL contract from Sydney Thunder. How he leads the Australian side in this World Cup while focusing on his own batting will be intriguing to watch. The ICC U-19 World Cup has produced real stars of today like Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, and Hashim Amla, to name a few. With the tournament having gone bigger and attracting more attention now, the pressure to perform on the young stars in the event would be that much more. But the modern game having evolved so much, young cricketers today are truly fearless. The ICC U-19 World Cup 2018 will hence surely be one exhilarating tournament to watch. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Why these 5 cricket stars will shine in ICC U-19 World Cup

Rahul Dravid. The Wall. The Legend. Fierce grit, passion, focus, stamina and humility &ndash; these words would, perhaps, amply describe the cricketer that Dravid was.&nbsp;

In a career spanning 16 years, Dravid, renowned for his technical proficiency, amassed 13288 Test runs and 10889 ODI runs, along with 48 international hundreds. In his prime, Dravid led India to its greatest heights in that golden phase of Indian cricket in the early 2000s.&nbsp;

Today, the 11th of January, marks Rahul Dravid&rsquo;s 45th birthday. On this special day, let&rsquo;s have a look at why this legendary Indian cricketer was truly one of India&rsquo;s greatest.&nbsp;

His resolve was exceptional

Very few cricketers in the history of the game have had the kind of resolve that Rahul Dravid had exhibited during his career. We got the first glimpse of that in his maiden Test hundred (148) against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1997. You could put him against any opposition, in any circumstance and on any pitch, and Rahul Dravid almost always would remain resilient until the very end and never gave his wicket away cheaply; there was always a price tag on it.

He was the most adaptable Indian batsman of his time

One of the best ways to judge an international cricketer is to note his adaptability in different conditions. Rahul Dravid scored highly in this regard. He adapted astoundingly well to conditions when the team toured overseas. Dravid&rsquo;s ability to acclimatize to any pitch even whilst playing on alien conditions is the reason that his overseas average stands at an outstanding 53. This was one of the chief reasons why India began winning outside of the&nbsp;home turf during that phase.

His majestic knock of 233 against Australia is one of Indian cricket&rsquo;s most notable achievements&nbsp;

At a time when Indian cricket used to constantly struggle overseas, Rahul Dravid produced one of the finest and most consequential knocks of Indian cricket. His 233 against Australia at Adelaide in 2003 not just helped India overhaul the home team&rsquo;s massive first innings score, but eventually helped them attain an elusive win in the country after long hiatus of 22 years. It was an innings of penance, grit and resolve. He spent a massive 594 minutes at the crease and ensured that India had the upper hand. While VVS Laxman&rsquo;s 281 is much talked about, Dravid&rsquo;s 233 isn&rsquo;t given as much credit as it should. But there is no denying that it is one of Indian cricket&rsquo;s most notable achievements.&nbsp;

He was willing to serve any role for the team&nbsp;

At many phases of his career, Rahul Dravid was made to bat in different positions in the team to suit the comfort of other players. He also donned the wicket-keeping gloves &ndash; most notably in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa &ndash; to allow the captain the comfort of using an extra bowler or a batsman. Dravid always put the team&rsquo;s interests much above his and was willing to serve any role the team desired of him. He was Indian cricket&rsquo;s brave heart in the truest sense of the word.

He was India&rsquo;s Mr. Dependable&nbsp;

If there was one epithet that suited Rahul Dravid even more than &lsquo;The Wall&rsquo; it was &lsquo;Mr. Dependable&rsquo;. He was India&rsquo;s Mr. Dependable right from the beginning of his career until the very end. He shouldered the responsibility of seeing through trying phases and on countless occasions helped them come out of absolute dire straits. He never shied away from responsibility and, in fact, thrived in it. The team was dependent on him to bail them through and on most occasions, Rahul Dravid did not fail them.

He is an inspiration and a perfect role model

While today&rsquo;s young sportspersons tend to be ultra-aggressive and in your face, they would do well to find inspiration from Rahul Dravid. If ever there was a sportsperson who could inspire generations, it is Rahul Dravid. The grace and humility with which he conducted himself throughout his career was special. He just let his bat do the talking and never indulged in unnecessary histrionics to lay forth his views. Dravid was calm under pressure and shied away from controversies and from unnecessary sledging. He has been the perfect role model of how a sportsperson should conduct oneself and go about their duties. Even today, Dravid continues to serve the game passionately by coaching India&rsquo;s future stars in the U-19 setup.&nbsp;

Some little-known facts about Rahul Dravid&nbsp;

Did you know?&nbsp; Much before he was bitten by the cricket bug, Rahul Dravid was enthralled by hockey. In fact, if his schoolmates are to be believed, he was quite proficient in the sport and was once even chosen to represent Karnataka&#39;s junior hockey state team.

Did you know?&nbsp; A local school tournament is named after Rahul Dravid&rsquo;s famous nickname, &ldquo;Jammy&rdquo;. In Bangalore, the &#39;Jammy Cup&#39; is held annually. Interestingly, the Man-of-the-Match after every game of this tournament is named as the &lsquo;Jammy of the Day&rsquo;

Did you know?&nbsp; Rahul Dravid also has an international Test wicket to his name. Bowling his simple off-breaks in the fourth Test against the West Indies in 2002 at Antigua, he got the vital scalp of wicket-keeper batsman Ridley Jacobs, caught at first slip by VVS Laxman. That remained Dravid&rsquo;s solitary Test wicket.

Rahul Dravid&rsquo;s phenomenal career numbers, along with his honesty and unflinching devotion to the game, has been a true inspiration not just to cricket fans, but to sportspersons all across the globe. They will serve as a guiding light for the coming generations for years.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

Rahul Dravid’s phenomenal career numbers, along with his honesty and unflinching devotion to the game, has been a true inspiration not just to cricket fans, but to sportspersons all across the globe.

Rahul Dravid. The Wall. The Legend. Fierce grit, passion, focus, stamina and humility – these words would, perhaps, amply describe the cricketer that Dravid was. In a career spanning 16 years, Dravid, renowned for his technical proficiency, amassed 13288 Test runs and 10889 ODI runs, along with 48 international hundreds. In his prime, Dravid led India to its greatest heights in that golden phase of Indian cricket in the early 2000s. Today, the 11th of January, marks Rahul Dravid’s 45th birthday. On this special day, let’s have a look at why this legendary Indian cricketer was truly one of India’s greatest. His resolve was exceptional Very few cricketers in the history of the game have had the kind of resolve that Rahul Dravid had exhibited during his career. We got the first glimpse of that in his maiden Test hundred (148) against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1997. You could put him against any opposition, in any circumstance and on any pitch, and Rahul Dravid almost always would remain resilient until the very end and never gave his wicket away cheaply; there was always a price tag on it. He was the most adaptable Indian batsman of his time One of the best ways to judge an international cricketer is to note his adaptability in different conditions. Rahul Dravid scored highly in this regard. He adapted astoundingly well to conditions when the team toured overseas. Dravid’s ability to acclimatize to any pitch even whilst playing on alien conditions is the reason that his overseas average stands at an outstanding 53. This was one of the chief reasons why India began winning outside of the home turf during that phase. His majestic knock of 233 against Australia is one of Indian cricket’s most notable achievements At a time when Indian cricket used to constantly struggle overseas, Rahul Dravid produced one of the finest and most consequential knocks of Indian cricket. His 233 against Australia at Adelaide in 2003 not just helped India overhaul the home team’s massive first innings score, but eventually helped them attain an elusive win in the country after long hiatus of 22 years. It was an innings of penance, grit and resolve. He spent a massive 594 minutes at the crease and ensured that India had the upper hand. While VVS Laxman’s 281 is much talked about, Dravid’s 233 isn’t given as much credit as it should. But there is no denying that it is one of Indian cricket’s most notable achievements. He was willing to serve any role for the team At many phases of his career, Rahul Dravid was made to bat in different positions in the team to suit the comfort of other players. He also donned the wicket-keeping gloves – most notably in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa – to allow the captain the comfort of using an extra bowler or a batsman. Dravid always put the team’s interests much above his and was willing to serve any role the team desired of him. He was Indian cricket’s brave heart in the truest sense of the word. He was India’s Mr. Dependable If there was one epithet that suited Rahul Dravid even more than ‘The Wall’ it was ‘Mr. Dependable’. He was India’s Mr. Dependable right from the beginning of his career until the very end. He shouldered the responsibility of seeing through trying phases and on countless occasions helped them come out of absolute dire straits. He never shied away from responsibility and, in fact, thrived in it. The team was dependent on him to bail them through and on most occasions, Rahul Dravid did not fail them. He is an inspiration and a perfect role model While today’s young sportspersons tend to be ultra-aggressive and in your face, they would do well to find inspiration from Rahul Dravid. If ever there was a sportsperson who could inspire generations, it is Rahul Dravid. The grace and humility with which he conducted himself throughout his career was special. He just let his bat do the talking and never indulged in unnecessary histrionics to lay forth his views. Dravid was calm under pressure and shied away from controversies and from unnecessary sledging. He has been the perfect role model of how a sportsperson should conduct oneself and go about their duties. Even today, Dravid continues to serve the game passionately by coaching India’s future stars in the U-19 setup. Some little-known facts about Rahul Dravid Did you know? Much before he was bitten by the cricket bug, Rahul Dravid was enthralled by hockey. In fact, if his schoolmates are to be believed, he was quite proficient in the sport and was once even chosen to represent Karnataka's junior hockey state team. Did you know? A local school tournament is named after Rahul Dravid’s famous nickname, “Jammy”. In Bangalore, the 'Jammy Cup' is held annually. Interestingly, the Man-of-the-Match after every game of this tournament is named as the ‘Jammy of the Day’ Did you know? Rahul Dravid also has an international Test wicket to his name. Bowling his simple off-breaks in the fourth Test against the West Indies in 2002 at Antigua, he got the vital scalp of wicket-keeper batsman Ridley Jacobs, caught at first slip by VVS Laxman. That remained Dravid’s solitary Test wicket. Rahul Dravid’s phenomenal career numbers, along with his honesty and unflinching devotion to the game, has been a true inspiration not just to cricket fans, but to sportspersons all across the globe. They will serve as a guiding light for the coming generations for years. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Happy Birthday, Rahul Dravid! You are India's greatest batsman.

Much before the ongoing India-South Africa series began, everyone knew this was going to be the toughest challenge Team India would be facing in a long time. And after the end of the first Test match at Cape Town last evening, we now know that this three-Test series is going to be one of the best contests the format has seen in a long time. In fact, the three days of action between India and South Africa at Newlands had much more drama, intrigue and thrill than the entire Ashes series between Australia and England that concluded yesterday.

South Africa came out trumps and beat India by 72 runs in the first Test. But despite their batting failures in the two innings, Team India fought well and throughout the Test had created chances for a genuine victory. Yes, a lot of tough questions would need to be addressed before they begin the second Test of the series, but the Indians can take heart from the fact that they fought hard. And the loss notwithstanding, they still have hopes of a fight back.&nbsp;

Why India can still turn it around

Though the loss will hurt, there were quite a few positives for India to take away from after the first Test. And if they rally around those positives and can mend a few loopholes, then they have it in them to turn things around.&nbsp;

The performance of the Indian seamers at Cape Town was laudable. In both the innings, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah bowled spiritedly and troubled the South African batsmen repeatedly. Bhuvaneshwar was outstanding in the first innings where he had four scalps and then, in the second innings, all the Indian seamers, including Hardik Pandya, bowled their heart out to shoot South Africa out for just 135 which gave their team a real chance for winning the Test. Unfortunately, the batsmen faltered at the crucial moments and could not deal with the combined firepower of Vernon Philander, Kasigo Rabada and Morne Morkel.

Apart from the three seam bowlers, India&rsquo;s other shining light was all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Questions had been raised on his inclusion in the Test squad on the tour to South Africa as many still consider him as more suited to limited overs cricket. However, Pandya proved his naysayers wrong. When the chips were down and India was tottering at 92-7 in the first innings, Pandya played fire with fire and produced a blistering 93 off 95 balls against the best Test bowling attack in the world at present that gave India some chance of a fight. With the ball as well, he picked up 3 crucial wickets in the match and showed that he can be a reliable fourth seamer for India on the tour.

The way ahead for the series&nbsp;

From what we have seen in the first Test, India does have enough match-winners in their ranks to cope with the South African firepower in their own backyard. They just need to sort out a few issues with their team selection and the likes of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan would need to be a lot more responsible in their batting. Because the way some of the top-order batsmen were dismissed - playing rather rash strokes at the most inappropriate time - requires some thorough introspection.&nbsp;

Also, Ajinkya Rahane &ndash; India&rsquo;s most successful batsman by a significant margin in overseas Test matches &ndash; needs to be drafted back into the side if India harbors a genuine hope for a fight back. Averaging close to 70 in South Africa, Rahane is the perfect batsman to have in these conditions and would bolster India&rsquo;s batting unit significantly.&nbsp;

If the top-order batsmen can pull their socks up and give their in-form bowlers enough support, then India has it in them to spring a surprise on the mighty South African unit in the remaining two Tests.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

If the top-order batsmen can pull their socks up and give their in-form bowlers enough support, then India has it in them to spring a surprise on the mighty South African unit in the remaining two Tests

Much before the ongoing India-South Africa series began, everyone knew this was going to be the toughest challenge Team India would be facing in a long time. And after the end of the first Test match at Cape Town last evening, we now know that this three-Test series is going to be one of the best contests the format has seen in a long time. In fact, the three days of action between India and South Africa at Newlands had much more drama, intrigue and thrill than the entire Ashes series between Australia and England that concluded yesterday. South Africa came out trumps and beat India by 72 runs in the first Test. But despite their batting failures in the two innings, Team India fought well and throughout the Test had created chances for a genuine victory. Yes, a lot of tough questions would need to be addressed before they begin the second Test of the series, but the Indians can take heart from the fact that they fought hard. And the loss notwithstanding, they still have hopes of a fight back. Why India can still turn it around Though the loss will hurt, there were quite a few positives for India to take away from after the first Test. And if they rally around those positives and can mend a few loopholes, then they have it in them to turn things around. The performance of the Indian seamers at Cape Town was laudable. In both the innings, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah bowled spiritedly and troubled the South African batsmen repeatedly. Bhuvaneshwar was outstanding in the first innings where he had four scalps and then, in the second innings, all the Indian seamers, including Hardik Pandya, bowled their heart out to shoot South Africa out for just 135 which gave their team a real chance for winning the Test. Unfortunately, the batsmen faltered at the crucial moments and could not deal with the combined firepower of Vernon Philander, Kasigo Rabada and Morne Morkel. Apart from the three seam bowlers, India’s other shining light was all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Questions had been raised on his inclusion in the Test squad on the tour to South Africa as many still consider him as more suited to limited overs cricket. However, Pandya proved his naysayers wrong. When the chips were down and India was tottering at 92-7 in the first innings, Pandya played fire with fire and produced a blistering 93 off 95 balls against the best Test bowling attack in the world at present that gave India some chance of a fight. With the ball as well, he picked up 3 crucial wickets in the match and showed that he can be a reliable fourth seamer for India on the tour. The way ahead for the series From what we have seen in the first Test, India does have enough match-winners in their ranks to cope with the South African firepower in their own backyard. They just need to sort out a few issues with their team selection and the likes of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan would need to be a lot more responsible in their batting. Because the way some of the top-order batsmen were dismissed - playing rather rash strokes at the most inappropriate time - requires some thorough introspection. Also, Ajinkya Rahane – India’s most successful batsman by a significant margin in overseas Test matches – needs to be drafted back into the side if India harbors a genuine hope for a fight back. Averaging close to 70 in South Africa, Rahane is the perfect batsman to have in these conditions and would bolster India’s batting unit significantly. If the top-order batsmen can pull their socks up and give their in-form bowlers enough support, then India has it in them to spring a surprise on the mighty South African unit in the remaining two Tests. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Can India turn around after losing to South Africa?

&quot;There are no fast bowlers in India,&quot; a spunky 15-year-old boy from Haryana was told while being served a plain lunch at a training camp at Brabourne Stadium in 1974. Stung by the statement, the boy took it to heart, and in the coming decade went on to become one of Indian cricket&rsquo;s greatest fast bowlers ever. That boy became a legend. A legend called Kapil Dev.

&nbsp;

Born on January 6, 1958, at Chandigarh (Haryana), Kapil Dev became renowned for bowling fast at a time when India literally didn&#39;t produce any fast bowlers. Touring teams to India were so used to the spin and bounce on the slow pitches there that Kapil came as a real surprise with his ability to swing the ball away at pace and his never say die attitude. He was tall, had a smooth action and even had a lethal bouncer to unruffle the batsman &ndash; at long last, Indian Cricket had found a bona fide fast bowler.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In a glittering career spanning 16 years, Kapil went on to become the leading wicket-taker of the world in Test cricket at one point with 434 wickets to his name. A testimony to Kapil&rsquo;s extraordinary skill as a seam bowler was that 219 out of his 434 wickets came in the heat, dust and humidity of Indian conditions.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Apart from being a brilliant fast bowler, Kapil was also among the best all-rounders of his time. A hard-hitting lower-order batsman, Kapil could change the complexion of any game &ndash; a trait that he exhibited several times in his career &ndash; with his batting alone. In fact, as Sunil Gavaskar has lamented on several occasions, had Kapil given more regard to his batting abilities he would certainly have had more than 5248 runs and 8 centuries in Tests.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Regardless, Kapil was one of Indian cricket&rsquo;s greatest ever servants &ndash; a champion like no other.

&nbsp;

He led India to a historic maiden World Cup triumph. Prior to the 50-over World Cup in England in 1983, India was not even in consideration and West Indies, who was aiming for a hat-trick of World Cup wins, was the prime contender. However, Kapil changed that by leading India to its first ever World Cup triumphs after defeating the West Indies in a momentous final at Lord&rsquo;s. In a team of underdogs, Kapil had infused life and spirit and himself led from the front and that incredible running catch to dismiss Vivian Richards in the finals was the stuff of legends.

&nbsp;

He smashed that epic 175 off 138 balls against Zimbabwe in the &rsquo;83 World Cup. This will undoubtedly rank as one of the all-time great ODI knocks, given the situation and the occasion it came in. In the all-important league encounter versus Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, the Indian team was reeling at 17-5 before Kapil came in, and in an absolutely dazzling display of batsmanship, smashed 175 off 138 balls with 16 fours and 6 sixes that helped India achieve an emphatic win and progress to the semis of the tournament.

&nbsp;

His 9-83 against West Indies on a slow Ahmedabad track was a tremendous effort. It&rsquo;s strange that this effort isn&rsquo;t recalled as much as it should be. On a slow Ahmedabad surface in the 1983 Ahmedabad Test against the mighty West Indian - containing the likes of Gordon Greenidge, Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd and others - Kapil produced his best ever Test bowling figures of 9-83. While India lost the match, Kapil&rsquo;s performance was one to cherish.

&nbsp;

He was the fittest Indian cricketer of his times.&nbsp; Long before fitness became a fad in cricket, Kapil Dev had set an example with his raw fitness. Unlike today, there weren&rsquo;t any fancy gymnasiums then and Kapil remained fit by just running countless laps. A reflection of his great fitness is that in the 131 Tests he played, he never missed a game due to injury.

&nbsp;

Named as the Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden over Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev truly is an all-time great. He is the only cricketer in history to have taken 400 wickets and scored over 5000 runs and his phenomenal feats have served as an inspiration for generations of Indian youngsters.

&nbsp;

While Kapil&rsquo;s prolific achievements have left an indelible mark on world cricket and shall always be cherished, what perhaps should be acknowledged more is that he was one of the rare Indian cricketers of his times who went on to be an international sports star despite emerging from a small town. On his 59th birthday, let&rsquo;s celebrate this outstanding cricketer&rsquo;s unforgettable career.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

He is the only cricketer in history to have taken 400 wickets and scored over 5000 runs and his phenomenal feats have served as an inspiration for generations of Indian youngsters.

"There are no fast bowlers in India," a spunky 15-year-old boy from Haryana was told while being served a plain lunch at a training camp at Brabourne Stadium in 1974. Stung by the statement, the boy took it to heart, and in the coming decade went on to become one of Indian cricket’s greatest fast bowlers ever. That boy became a legend. A legend called Kapil Dev. Born on January 6, 1958, at Chandigarh (Haryana), Kapil Dev became renowned for bowling fast at a time when India literally didn't produce any fast bowlers. Touring teams to India were so used to the spin and bounce on the slow pitches there that Kapil came as a real surprise with his ability to swing the ball away at pace and his never say die attitude. He was tall, had a smooth action and even had a lethal bouncer to unruffle the batsman – at long last, Indian Cricket had found a bona fide fast bowler. In a glittering career spanning 16 years, Kapil went on to become the leading wicket-taker of the world in Test cricket at one point with 434 wickets to his name. A testimony to Kapil’s extraordinary skill as a seam bowler was that 219 out of his 434 wickets came in the heat, dust and humidity of Indian conditions. Apart from being a brilliant fast bowler, Kapil was also among the best all-rounders of his time. A hard-hitting lower-order batsman, Kapil could change the complexion of any game – a trait that he exhibited several times in his career – with his batting alone. In fact, as Sunil Gavaskar has lamented on several occasions, had Kapil given more regard to his batting abilities he would certainly have had more than 5248 runs and 8 centuries in Tests. Regardless, Kapil was one of Indian cricket’s greatest ever servants – a champion like no other. He led India to a historic maiden World Cup triumph. Prior to the 50-over World Cup in England in 1983, India was not even in consideration and West Indies, who was aiming for a hat-trick of World Cup wins, was the prime contender. However, Kapil changed that by leading India to its first ever World Cup triumphs after defeating the West Indies in a momentous final at Lord’s. In a team of underdogs, Kapil had infused life and spirit and himself led from the front and that incredible running catch to dismiss Vivian Richards in the finals was the stuff of legends. He smashed that epic 175 off 138 balls against Zimbabwe in the ’83 World Cup. This will undoubtedly rank as one of the all-time great ODI knocks, given the situation and the occasion it came in. In the all-important league encounter versus Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, the Indian team was reeling at 17-5 before Kapil came in, and in an absolutely dazzling display of batsmanship, smashed 175 off 138 balls with 16 fours and 6 sixes that helped India achieve an emphatic win and progress to the semis of the tournament. His 9-83 against West Indies on a slow Ahmedabad track was a tremendous effort. It’s strange that this effort isn’t recalled as much as it should be. On a slow Ahmedabad surface in the 1983 Ahmedabad Test against the mighty West Indian - containing the likes of Gordon Greenidge, Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd and others - Kapil produced his best ever Test bowling figures of 9-83. While India lost the match, Kapil’s performance was one to cherish. He was the fittest Indian cricketer of his times. Long before fitness became a fad in cricket, Kapil Dev had set an example with his raw fitness. Unlike today, there weren’t any fancy gymnasiums then and Kapil remained fit by just running countless laps. A reflection of his great fitness is that in the 131 Tests he played, he never missed a game due to injury. Named as the Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden over Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev truly is an all-time great. He is the only cricketer in history to have taken 400 wickets and scored over 5000 runs and his phenomenal feats have served as an inspiration for generations of Indian youngsters. While Kapil’s prolific achievements have left an indelible mark on world cricket and shall always be cherished, what perhaps should be acknowledged more is that he was one of the rare Indian cricketers of his times who went on to be an international sports star despite emerging from a small town. On his 59th birthday, let’s celebrate this outstanding cricketer’s unforgettable career. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion:  Why Kapil Dev is Indian Cricketer of the Century

South Africa has never been a happy hunting place for Team India. Out of the 17 Tests that they have played in the country since 1992, they have managed just two victories so far.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

However, there is a distinct difference between the current Indian team and those of the past. Led by a fearless Virat Kohli, the present Indian team oozes confidence. It has in them the talent and the spirit to upstage the robust South Africans in their own den when they take them on at Cape Town on the 5th of January for the first Test of the three-match series.

&nbsp;

Aside from Kohli himself, the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Lokesh Rahul, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin and Murali Vijay have been India&rsquo;s star performers in Test cricket in the recent past that has led to their rise as the No. 1 Test team in the world. The visitors would be banking on them to make a difference in the Test series against South Africa.

&nbsp;

This epic Test series is likely to be witness to some great individual performances from both sides given the amount of talent on display. As we wait for this big battle to begin, it would be the apt time to relive some of the great individual performances in India-South Africa Test history.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Virender Sehwag&rsquo;s blistering 319 bulldozes South Africa - Chennai, 2008

&nbsp;

Virender Sehwag knew only one way to bat &ndash; see the ball, hit the ball. This trait of his was especially evident in the 1st Test between India and South Africa at Chennai in 2008. Trying to overtake South Africa&rsquo;s mammoth 1st innings total of 540, the home side were led by a marauding Virender Sehwag who absolutely tore into the robust South African bowling.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Using his typical hand-eye co-ordination, Sehwag smashed every bowler with disdain to reach a career-best 319 off just 304 balls with 42 fours and 5 sixes &ndash; his second triple hundred and also the highest ever Test score by an Indian. The match ended in a draw, but Sehwag&rsquo;s sizzling knock was unforgettable.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sachin Tendulkar smashes outstanding hundred amid ruins - Cape Town, 1997

&nbsp;

The visiting Indian side was having a torrid time on their tour to South Africa in 1996-97. After having lost the first Test, they were tottering at 5-58 in the second Test at Cape Town while trying to reach South Africa&rsquo;s massive total of 529. But then, Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar produced one of his best ever knocks to save India the blushes.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Fighting fire with fire, Sachin, along with Mohammad Azharuddin (115), took on the likes Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock and punished them in a dazzling display of batsmanship. Sachin scored a majestic 169 off 254 balls with 26 fours and it was courtesy his knock that India could manage to post 359. Unfortunately, they lost the match by 282 runs later.

&nbsp;

Daryll Cullinan&rsquo;s gallant century saves South Africa from certain defeat - Johannesburg, 1997

&nbsp;

Chasing a tough target of 356 on an uneven Wanderers pitch on the last day of the third Test against India, South Africa was looking down the barrel at 7-95. With the bowlers of the visiting Indian side showing great vigor, it was only Daryll Cullinan who stood tall among the ruins. Even as the ball moved around viciously, Cullinan displayed great character and stuck around. He punished the loose balls and kept rotating the strike with the tail. Eventually, Cullinan remained unbeaten on a terrific 122 with 15 fours and a six that helped South Africa squeeze out a nerve-wracking draw.

&nbsp;

Lance Klusener gets eight-wicket haul on debut to destroy India &ndash; Kolkata, 1996:

&nbsp;

It was a debut performance of a lifetime. After having lost the first Test at Ahmedabad, the South African side needed to come back strongly in the second Test at Kolkata on their tour to India in 1996. Their saviour turned out to be debutant Lance Klusener.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Set a colossal target of 467 for victory, the Indian innings was rocked by the sensational seam bowling effort by Klusener. Appearing in his maiden Test match, Klusener showed remarkable maturity in bowling tight lengths and extracting prodigious seam movement off the Eden Gardens pitch.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

One after the other, the Indian batsman fell to his sharp inswingers and away ones. Klusener ended with phenomenal figures of 8-64 &ndash; the best bowling figures yet in India-South Africa Tests &ndash; that shot India out for just 137 and gave South Africa a comprehensive 123-run victory.

&nbsp;

Sreesanth records magnificent five-wicket haul to give India first Test win in South Africa &ndash; Johannesburg, 2006

&nbsp;

On three previous tours and 9 Tests before 2006, the Indian team had not been able to achieve a single victory in South Africa. That changed in the very first Test of India&rsquo;s tour to South Africa in 2006-07 at Johannesburg. On a track that assisted pacers, India batted first and was bowled out for just 249. However, as they came to bowl, the visitors turned things around courtesy an absolutely majestic spell of seam bowling by S Sreesanth. Moving the ball around both ways with a fabulous seam position, Sreesanth dismantled the stable South African batting order. He recorded terrific figures of 5-40 that helped bowl the home team out for just 84 and eventually gave India a historic maiden Test victory in South Africa by 123 runs. It was a spectacular spell and will go down as one of the very best seen in the country.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Out of the 17 Tests, Indian Team have played in the country since 1992, they have managed just two victories so far.

South Africa has never been a happy hunting place for Team India. Out of the 17 Tests that they have played in the country since 1992, they have managed just two victories so far. However, there is a distinct difference between the current Indian team and those of the past. Led by a fearless Virat Kohli, the present Indian team oozes confidence. It has in them the talent and the spirit to upstage the robust South Africans in their own den when they take them on at Cape Town on the 5th of January for the first Test of the three-match series. Aside from Kohli himself, the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Lokesh Rahul, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin and Murali Vijay have been India’s star performers in Test cricket in the recent past that has led to their rise as the No. 1 Test team in the world. The visitors would be banking on them to make a difference in the Test series against South Africa. This epic Test series is likely to be witness to some great individual performances from both sides given the amount of talent on display. As we wait for this big battle to begin, it would be the apt time to relive some of the great individual performances in India-South Africa Test history. Virender Sehwag’s blistering 319 bulldozes South Africa - Chennai, 2008 Virender Sehwag knew only one way to bat – see the ball, hit the ball. This trait of his was especially evident in the 1st Test between India and South Africa at Chennai in 2008. Trying to overtake South Africa’s mammoth 1st innings total of 540, the home side were led by a marauding Virender Sehwag who absolutely tore into the robust South African bowling. Using his typical hand-eye co-ordination, Sehwag smashed every bowler with disdain to reach a career-best 319 off just 304 balls with 42 fours and 5 sixes – his second triple hundred and also the highest ever Test score by an Indian. The match ended in a draw, but Sehwag’s sizzling knock was unforgettable. Sachin Tendulkar smashes outstanding hundred amid ruins - Cape Town, 1997 The visiting Indian side was having a torrid time on their tour to South Africa in 1996-97. After having lost the first Test, they were tottering at 5-58 in the second Test at Cape Town while trying to reach South Africa’s massive total of 529. But then, Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar produced one of his best ever knocks to save India the blushes. Fighting fire with fire, Sachin, along with Mohammad Azharuddin (115), took on the likes Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock and punished them in a dazzling display of batsmanship. Sachin scored a majestic 169 off 254 balls with 26 fours and it was courtesy his knock that India could manage to post 359. Unfortunately, they lost the match by 282 runs later. Daryll Cullinan’s gallant century saves South Africa from certain defeat - Johannesburg, 1997 Chasing a tough target of 356 on an uneven Wanderers pitch on the last day of the third Test against India, South Africa was looking down the barrel at 7-95. With the bowlers of the visiting Indian side showing great vigor, it was only Daryll Cullinan who stood tall among the ruins. Even as the ball moved around viciously, Cullinan displayed great character and stuck around. He punished the loose balls and kept rotating the strike with the tail. Eventually, Cullinan remained unbeaten on a terrific 122 with 15 fours and a six that helped South Africa squeeze out a nerve-wracking draw. Lance Klusener gets eight-wicket haul on debut to destroy India – Kolkata, 1996: It was a debut performance of a lifetime. After having lost the first Test at Ahmedabad, the South African side needed to come back strongly in the second Test at Kolkata on their tour to India in 1996. Their saviour turned out to be debutant Lance Klusener. Set a colossal target of 467 for victory, the Indian innings was rocked by the sensational seam bowling effort by Klusener. Appearing in his maiden Test match, Klusener showed remarkable maturity in bowling tight lengths and extracting prodigious seam movement off the Eden Gardens pitch. One after the other, the Indian batsman fell to his sharp inswingers and away ones. Klusener ended with phenomenal figures of 8-64 – the best bowling figures yet in India-South Africa Tests – that shot India out for just 137 and gave South Africa a comprehensive 123-run victory. Sreesanth records magnificent five-wicket haul to give India first Test win in South Africa – Johannesburg, 2006 On three previous tours and 9 Tests before 2006, the Indian team had not been able to achieve a single victory in South Africa. That changed in the very first Test of India’s tour to South Africa in 2006-07 at Johannesburg. On a track that assisted pacers, India batted first and was bowled out for just 249. However, as they came to bowl, the visitors turned things around courtesy an absolutely majestic spell of seam bowling by S Sreesanth. Moving the ball around both ways with a fabulous seam position, Sreesanth dismantled the stable South African batting order. He recorded terrific figures of 5-40 that helped bowl the home team out for just 84 and eventually gave India a historic maiden Test victory in South Africa by 123 runs. It was a spectacular spell and will go down as one of the very best seen in the country. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Why South Africa has never been a happy hunting place for Team India

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for its biggest challenge in recent times as it commences its challenging tour to South Africa this month, with the Test series set to begin at Cape Town from the 5th of January. Though India is ranked No.1 in the world in Tests at present, it will be a daunting task to take on South Africa, who is almost unvanquished at home.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

As we wait for this epic showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 Test sides of the world, it will be a good time to look back on some of the unforgettable Test matches in the India-South Africa Test history.

&nbsp;

The first ever India-South Africa Test match took place at Durban in 1992.

India became the first international side to play a Test in South Africa since 1970 when they toured there for a 4-match series in 1992-93. The first Test of the tour &ndash; also the first ever Test between the two sides &ndash; was played at Durban and got off to a cracker off a start as Kapil Dev dismissed Jimmy Cook in the very first ball off the match. A tenacious century on debut by India&rsquo;s Praveen Amre on the bouncy Durban track was the highlight of the Test as it helped India stay alive despite the sprightly display by the South African bowlers. The match ended in an entertaining draw.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Srinath&rsquo;s heroics secures India a thrilling win at Ahmedabad in 1996.

This was a low-scoring affair that was turned on its head on the fourth day courtesy a sensational fast bowling effort by India&rsquo;s Javagal Srinath. In the first Test of South Africa&rsquo;s tour to India in late 1996, at Ahmedabad, the home team could set the visitors a target of just 170 to win after back-to-back below par performances with the bat in both their batting forays. With almost two days left to get the runs, the target looked like a cinch to the robust South African unit. However, Indian pace bowler Javagal Srinath ripped through the South African batting in a fearsome display of seam and reverse swing on a fourth-day pitch and ended up with his then career-best figures of 6-21. South Africa was dismantled for just 105 and India won a thrilling Test by 64 runs.

&nbsp;

The greatest drawn Test took place at Johannesburg in 2013.&nbsp;

This will easily go down as one of the most thrilling drawn Tests ever. Facing a mammoth target of 458 on a tricky Wanderers pitch, South Africa came within just eight runs of breaking the world record for the highest successful chase in Test history. Faf du Plessis (134) and AB de Villiers (103) set up an incredible 205-run partnership for the fifth wicket on the last day that almost took the game away from India. But as tensions mounted, some tight bowling by the Indian bowlers pulled things back and South Africa ended on 450-7. Both teams were satisfied as they fought till the very end and gave the boisterous crowd a lot to cheer about. For India, Cheteshwar Pujara&rsquo;s spunky 153 helped set the big target. And for South Africa, their ability to dominate shone again. Overall, it was an unforgettable drawn Test.

&nbsp;

India scored a historic win on a bouncy Durban pitch in 2010.&nbsp;

Considered widely as one of the bounciest tracks in the world, the visiting Indian side&rsquo;s task was cut out as they geared up to face South Africa in the second Test of their tour to the country in late 2010. The pitch was fast all right but it worked against the home side as the Indian bowlers, led by Zaheer Khan, put up a spirited display and shot South Africa out for just 131 after posting just 205 themselves in the 1st innings. A coruscating 96 by VVS Laxman in the second innings then gave India a respectable score and a lead of 302 runs. The target was tricky and on a track that was assisting pace and bounce, the South African batsmen crumpled in the last innings to give India a historic 87-run victory &ndash; only their second Test win in the country.

&nbsp;

South Africa ekes out a nerve-wracking draw at Johannesburg in 1997.&nbsp;

Although this match was drawn, it had enough drama to make it a true classic. The third and final Test of India&rsquo;s tour to South Africa, played at Johannesburg, was the visitors&rsquo; last opportunity to secure a win after being routed 2-0 in the previous two Tests. Rahul Dravid&rsquo;s resolute 148 helped India amass a solid 410 on the board in the first innings. The Test was interestingly poised after South Africa was set an imposing target of 356 in the last innings. The Indian bowlers put up a mettlesome display and had the home team reeling at 7-95 at one stage. However, rain interruptions and Daryl Cullinan&rsquo;s plucky unbeaten 122 helped South Africa eke out a nervous draw in the dying moments. Despite the result, it was a thoroughly entertaining game of cricket.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

Though India is ranked No.1 in the world in Tests at present, it will be a daunting task to take on South Africa, who is almost unvanquished at home.

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for its biggest challenge in recent times as it commences its challenging tour to South Africa this month, with the Test series set to begin at Cape Town from the 5th of January. Though India is ranked No.1 in the world in Tests at present, it will be a daunting task to take on South Africa, who is almost unvanquished at home. As we wait for this epic showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 Test sides of the world, it will be a good time to look back on some of the unforgettable Test matches in the India-South Africa Test history. The first ever India-South Africa Test match took place at Durban in 1992. India became the first international side to play a Test in South Africa since 1970 when they toured there for a 4-match series in 1992-93. The first Test of the tour – also the first ever Test between the two sides – was played at Durban and got off to a cracker off a start as Kapil Dev dismissed Jimmy Cook in the very first ball off the match. A tenacious century on debut by India’s Praveen Amre on the bouncy Durban track was the highlight of the Test as it helped India stay alive despite the sprightly display by the South African bowlers. The match ended in an entertaining draw. Srinath’s heroics secures India a thrilling win at Ahmedabad in 1996. This was a low-scoring affair that was turned on its head on the fourth day courtesy a sensational fast bowling effort by India’s Javagal Srinath. In the first Test of South Africa’s tour to India in late 1996, at Ahmedabad, the home team could set the visitors a target of just 170 to win after back-to-back below par performances with the bat in both their batting forays. With almost two days left to get the runs, the target looked like a cinch to the robust South African unit. However, Indian pace bowler Javagal Srinath ripped through the South African batting in a fearsome display of seam and reverse swing on a fourth-day pitch and ended up with his then career-best figures of 6-21. South Africa was dismantled for just 105 and India won a thrilling Test by 64 runs. The greatest drawn Test took place at Johannesburg in 2013. This will easily go down as one of the most thrilling drawn Tests ever. Facing a mammoth target of 458 on a tricky Wanderers pitch, South Africa came within just eight runs of breaking the world record for the highest successful chase in Test history. Faf du Plessis (134) and AB de Villiers (103) set up an incredible 205-run partnership for the fifth wicket on the last day that almost took the game away from India. But as tensions mounted, some tight bowling by the Indian bowlers pulled things back and South Africa ended on 450-7. Both teams were satisfied as they fought till the very end and gave the boisterous crowd a lot to cheer about. For India, Cheteshwar Pujara’s spunky 153 helped set the big target. And for South Africa, their ability to dominate shone again. Overall, it was an unforgettable drawn Test. India scored a historic win on a bouncy Durban pitch in 2010. Considered widely as one of the bounciest tracks in the world, the visiting Indian side’s task was cut out as they geared up to face South Africa in the second Test of their tour to the country in late 2010. The pitch was fast all right but it worked against the home side as the Indian bowlers, led by Zaheer Khan, put up a spirited display and shot South Africa out for just 131 after posting just 205 themselves in the 1st innings. A coruscating 96 by VVS Laxman in the second innings then gave India a respectable score and a lead of 302 runs. The target was tricky and on a track that was assisting pace and bounce, the South African batsmen crumpled in the last innings to give India a historic 87-run victory – only their second Test win in the country. South Africa ekes out a nerve-wracking draw at Johannesburg in 1997. Although this match was drawn, it had enough drama to make it a true classic. The third and final Test of India’s tour to South Africa, played at Johannesburg, was the visitors’ last opportunity to secure a win after being routed 2-0 in the previous two Tests. Rahul Dravid’s resolute 148 helped India amass a solid 410 on the board in the first innings. The Test was interestingly poised after South Africa was set an imposing target of 356 in the last innings. The Indian bowlers put up a mettlesome display and had the home team reeling at 7-95 at one stage. However, rain interruptions and Daryl Cullinan’s plucky unbeaten 122 helped South Africa eke out a nervous draw in the dying moments. Despite the result, it was a thoroughly entertaining game of cricket. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Upcoming South Africa tour is Indian cricket team's biggest challenge

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Bhavesh Bhimani

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