It can be a day which is able to etched within the historical past of Indian cricket perpetually. Dismissing a crew for a double digit determine is an enormous feat, and India did it in emphatic trend in opposition to South Africa on Day 1 of the second Test. A career-best six-wicket haul from Mohammed Siraj helped India dismiss South Africa for a lowly 55 earlier than the guests have been dismissed for 153.

At Tea, India led the Proteas by 56 runs regardless of dropping the highest order. The pitch wasn’t the best for batting and the match may finish nicely inside three days if not two. In a straight spell of 9 overs, Siraj picked six for 15 because the South African batters made a beeline again to the dug-out, unable to counter the disconcerting bounce and the motion, each inward and outward, that he extracted off the floor.

The Day additionally noticed a second when South African pacer Nadre Burger tried to intimidate Virat Kohli by making an attempt to throw the ball at his path. Virat Kohli smiled again. “Virat Kohli is the wrong man to do your aggression,” mentioned Sunil Gavaskar throughout commentary.

No Burger, Not to Him

LEADER VIRAT KOHLIpic.twitter.com/Q2e9r93dvv

— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) January 3, 2024

Sunil Gavaskar mentioned “Virat Kohli is the wrong man to do your aggression”. [Star Sports] pic.twitter.com/e52UnHA8no

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 3, 2024

It was additionally South Africa’s lowest whole in Test cricket since their readmission into worldwide cricket in 1991.

However the Indian batters additionally did not fare any higher in opposition to the awkward angle and steep bounce generated by the brand new Proteas left-arm speedster Nandre Burger (3/42).

Rohit Sharma (39 off 50 balls) and Shubman Gill (36 off 55 balls) hit a dozen of boundaries between them however proficient duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and Shreyas Iyer (0), from the famed “Khadoos School of Mumbai Cricket” did not hassle the scorers, after as soon as once more being uncovered for technical ineptitude.

A Special Spell

Before Siraj’s particular effort, the one Indian in nation’s 92 yr Test historical past to take 5 wickets earlier than lunch was left-arm spinner Maninder Singh, who achieved the feat in opposition to Pakistan in Bengaluru again in 1986-1987.

On a damp Wednesday morning, South African batters discovered what an awesome leveller the sport of cricket is with Siraj ripping the center out of the Proteas batting with a masterclass of tempo, swing and seam motion. The Proteas innings resulted in simply 23.2 overs.

David Bedingham (12) and Kyle Verreynne (15) have been the one two batters to hit the double digits because the South African supporters in stands have been surprised into silence.

Jasprit Bumrah (2/25 in 8 overs) additionally saved the strain from the opposite finish as Indian skipper Rohit Sharma saved his promise of creating reverse quantity Dean Elgar‘s life depressing in his farewell Test.

Mukesh Kumar (2/0) additionally wrapped the tail up and proved that he’s manner higher than a bits and items Shardul Thakur in these circumstances.

Having been pilloried for conceding 400 plus runs within the heavy defeat on the Centurion, even the largest of Indian supporters would not have envisaged such a roaring comeback from the bowlers.

Siraj saved the ball on fuller lengths between 4-6 metres and with bounce bought most balls to jag again in.

From the opposite finish, Bumrah hit the again of size space as Rohit set fully attacking fields, albeit of various nature.

When Siraj bowled initially, there was a leg-slip positioned whereas for Bumrah, Rohit himself stood at quick leg.

The procession began with Aiden Markram occurring a ‘fishing expedition’ to a supply that moved in air and formed away with the opener closing his bat face. Yashasvi Jaiswal took a unbelievable catch at third slip to ship again Markram.

The stodgy Elgar performed one to his stumps off Siraj who angled one throughout on fuller size, not giving him sufficient room to play the minimize shot.

Bumrah bought younger Tristan Stubbs right into a tangle and the easy catch was devoured up by skipper at short-leg.

Tony De Zorzi’s affinity to whip balls off the hips was exploited as he was caught down the leg-side.

Unlike Centurion, there have been plans in place and David Bedingham, who was ate up the backfoot within the first Test, was enticed to go for a drive on size and further bounce did the trick.

Once Marco Jansen edged Siraj to provide him his fifth scalp, one knew that South Africa would have one among their most embarrassing mornings since return to worldwide cricket.