On the opening day of the Boxing Day Test between India and South Africa, the Proteas gained an early advantage after winning the toss and electing to field first. India faced a challenging start, losing their top three batsmen within the first 11 overs. However, they received a stroke of luck as catches were dropped off the bats of Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli.
Bavuma injured
In a gripping moment during the match, Temba Bavuma chased down a cover drive by Virat Kohli, but as he reached the ball, he pulled up, signaling an injury. After throwing the ball back, Bavuma received medical attention. It was evident that Bavuma’s recurring hamstring issues had resurfaced, prompting him to walk off the field. Initially, there was speculation that Aiden Markram might take over the captaincy, but to everyone’s surprise, the retiring Dean Elgar stepped up instead. At the end of that over, Kohli was on 19 off 35 deliveries, while his teammate Shreyas Iyer was on 15 off 22, setting the stage for an intriguing turn of events in the match.
Despite earlier predictions of intermittent rain, the sun was shining down at SuperSport Park, creating favorable conditions for play. The toss was initially delayed due to a wet outfield, with an inspection eventually leading to the toss taking place at 1.45pm IST and play scheduled to start at 2pm. Prasidh Krishna received his debut cap, marking a significant moment in his career.
India faced an uphill battle in South Africa, historically struggling in both batting and spin bowling on these pitches. They have never won a Test series in South Africa since 1996, winning only four out of 23 Tests played there. However, India has shown resilience in recent years, challenging South Africa during their tours.
Rohit Sharma led the Indian side for the first time, with notable absences including Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, who were dropped from the squad. Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant were also unavailable due to injuries. Despite these setbacks, India boasted a strong lineup with the likes of Virat Kohli, who has a commendable average in South Africa, and promising young talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer, making their debut in South Africa.
On the other hand, South Africa faced their own challenges, with captain Temba Bavuma under pressure, concerns over the fitness of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, and Dean Elgar playing in his farewell series. Despite this, India saw an opportunity to overcome the odds and claim victory, buoyed by the belief of their fans in their ability to succeed on the South African soil once again.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
