Thursday’s opening session during the third day in the Boxing Day Test saw South Africa dominate the proceedings once again. At Centurion, experienced opener Dean Elgar had to miss out on his first double hundred by only 15 runs. Before the lunch break at SuperSport Park, Dean Elgar was caught down the leg side by a bouncer from Shardul Thakur. Just as he appeared to be approaching the milestone at his home field in his final Test series, he had to go back. Elgar and Jansen nearly put India out of the match with their 119-run sixth wicket partnership.
David Bedingham, making his debut, and subsequently Marco Jansen both made useful contributions that placed South Africa far ahead in this match. The Indians, with the exception of Jasprit Bumrah, were sloppy and listless. Disappointed were Shardul Thakur as well as Prasidh Krishna. Siraj, however, was brilliant in spurts and ended up with two wickets.
In the third innings, South Africa had an enormous task before them. Conversely, India had to struggle to remain in the match. However once again the openers disappointed the team management and the fans. Rohit Sharma went for a duck, meanwhile, youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal went back after a brilliant ball by Nandre Burger.
India collapse as King Kohli stood alone
Shubman Gill was then joined by Virat Kohli as they intended to take the Indian innings forward. The prince and the King played their shots and were looking confident. However, it was one shot too many from Gill as a pin-point yorker by Marco Jansen got the better of him.
The Indian middle-order was once again given the task to bail the team out from a precarious position. Shreyas Iyer and Rahul failed miserably in this innings and Ravichandran Ashwin was only at the crease for one ball. It was Virat’s turn to bat with the tail and drag India’s total forward and save an innings defeat. However, when luck is not in your favour, it might not work. Kohli’s valiant knock of 76 was the final wicket as South Africa won by an innings and 32 runs.
‘Beizatti karwadi aaj toh’ – Fans react as South Africa defeat Team India by an innings and 32 runs on day 3 of first Test: –
South Africa defeated India by innings & 32 runs in the first Test. pic.twitter.com/Gxuqj8ndGf
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 28, 2023
How SELFISH Virat Kohli is, sab out ho Gaye akela fight kar raha hai.
Please drop him as he is not selfless. #ViratKohli?
— ?? ???? ??? (@JaiShreeRam90) December 28, 2023
Rohit is searching for….? pic.twitter.com/GM8Muk8HHO
— King Kohli's Fan (@ViratFan100) December 28, 2023
We lost by an innings to SA under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.
If BCCI have any shame left, they should sack Rohit Sharma, drop him from the team and make him walk to Mumbai.
— TMS ?? (@TMS205) December 28, 2023
Fought like a legend champ? pic.twitter.com/YA912jS7zu
— White knight ? (@santhoshtiger14) December 28, 2023
Only 2 players,played well very poor performance from us let’s hope we can make a comeback in next test
— Cricket_Uncut… (@unknown_khabari) December 28, 2023
Wc final yaad aa gya…Kohli or Kl akele India k liye lad rhe the??
— Cricket_Uncut… (@unknown_khabari) December 28, 2023
South Africa ko South Africa me aap nhi Hara sakte jab taq virat, ms aur Ganguly na ho
— Tasneem Hanif ?? (@TasneemKhatai) December 28, 2023
Innings defeats hurts, especially a 10 member team inflicted it, hurts more ?
— Prasad Bhojak (@BhojakPb) December 28, 2023
— Radhika Chaudhary (@Radhika8057) December 28, 2023
One man Army: King Kohli ??? pic.twitter.com/NDbk1mhZ3L
— King Kohli's Fan (@ViratFan100) December 28, 2023
Gambhir going to blame the loss on this shot from Kohli
— Ahmer Khan ?? ? (@StellarTweeting) December 28, 2023
South Africa has destroyed india in
Centurion. ?— – ??????? – (@MianMutahir20) December 28, 2023
