India’s historic victory in the second Test match against South Africa, the shortest Test match ever played, was a match in which the Indian team showed amazing resilience and skill. But while some players rose to the occasion, others crumbled under pressure. Here, we look at the highs and lows of the Indian team’s performance:
Stars.
Jasprit Bumrah: The undisputed best player of the series, Bumrah was superb with the ball. His six wickets in the second innings, with impeccable line and length, crushed the South African middle order and paved the way for India to chase with ease.
Mohammed Siraj: After a mediocre performance by Centurion, Siraj redeemed himself by smashing the South African top middle order for six wickets in the first innings to set the tone for India’s victory. He further cemented his contribution by pouncing on centurion Aiden Markram at a crucial moment in the second innings.
Virat Kohli Despite Kohli’s disappointing performance in the second innings, he maintained his good form throughout the match. His top score of 46 in the first innings, which was peppered with boundaries and confident play, set the stage for India’s victory.
Errors
KL Rahul: Rahul’s promising performance in Centurion was overshadowed by a poor performance in Cape Town. He got off to a slow start and was undone by a loose delivery, triggering a late collapse that exposed India’s fragile batting depth in Pant’s absence.
Prasidh Krishna While Krishna is young and still learning, he struggled to find his rhythm throughout the series. His varying lengths and inaccurate lines failed to make the most of the South African conditions, which was particularly evident in Markram’s attack in the second innings.
Beyond the stars and failures:
Ravichandran Ashwin’s absence was keenly felt by the Indian team as was his lack of experience and spin expertise.
Shubman Gill’s continued struggles have raised concerns about the opening partnership.
The return of Rishabh Pant for the next series will go a long way in boosting India’s batting depth and power.
India’s historic win in Cape Town proved their individual ability and collective resilience. However, recognising areas for improvement remains crucial for sustained success on the international stage.