SA vs IND, 1st Test: Proteas draw first blood, inflict crushing defeat on India by an innings and 32 runs

India were crushed to an embarrassing defeat in the first Test match against South Africa on Thursday (Dec 28) in Centurion as they lost by an innings and 32runs. In the second innings, India were bowled out for 131as they trailed by 163 runs. While Virat Kohli scored 76 runs in second innings, Nandre Burger (33/4) and Kagiso Rabada (32/2) turned out to be the nightmare for India to condemn them to the defeat. The defeat also means India’s wait for a series win on South African soil continues even if they win the second Test in Cape Town in January 2024.

India face embarrassing defeat

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After securing a 163-run lead in their first innings, India were called into bat on Day 3 of the Centurion Test needing a good start. However, those plans were dented as the visitors lost the wickets of Rohit Sharma (0) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) early.This was Rohit’s fifth Test duck as he suffers from a poor run of form. Rohit was soon joined by Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) as India’s poor Test return continued. The visitors were 13/2 before Shubman Gill (26) and Virat Kohli tried to stitch a partnership.

Later, Gill and Shreyas Iyer were scalped by Marco Jansen as India were 72/4 with KL Rahul and Kohli batting. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Kohli changed gears and tried to get his hundred however his wicket in the 35th over brought curtains to the innings as India lost by an innings and 32 runs. Apart from Virat, only Shubman Gill got into double figures for India as they now switch attention to the second Test in Cape Town.

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Elgar departs, getsstanding ovation

Earlier, Dean Elgar, having scored a hundred on Wednesday continued with his impressive run before he was dismissed for 185. Post his knock, Elgar departed with a heroes salute from the local fans as the crowd gave him a standing ovation despite missing out on the double hundred. The left-hand batter before the start of the series had announced his retirement from international duty after the conclusion of the second Test in Cape Town. His innings helped South Africa post 408 while Marco Jansen remained unbeaten on 84. Temba Bavuma’s injury forced him to sit out of the contest and did not come out to bat.

The two teams will now meet on Wednesday (3 January 2024) at the Newlands as India try to level the series and salvage a point in the World Test Championship (WTC).