India has been able to end the Test Series against South Africa with 1-1 scoreline just like T20I Series. With a rather very young team and only four to five veterans in the Tour, India can call it a success. But the 153/4 to 153 all-out fiasco, first Test batting performance would be questionable. Even bowling towards the end of first innings in first session, could be termed as uninspiring.
But team managing to win second Test on the back of great bowling performances by now veterans like Mohammed Siraj and ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah would be inspiring for future. Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur could not really use helpful conditions and that is, underwhelming. Mukesh Kumar proved to be much better bowler and we can hope for him to continue his form.
India needed to score 79 runs to win the second Test at Capetown. They scored 80/3 in just 12 overs. India did not waste time and attacked SA bowlers. Yashasvi Jaiswal(28) majorly looked like finishing the chase in just 10 overs. Rohit Sharma stayed not out at the crease to see India through. The match finished in 107 overs in total and it is finished in just 5 sessions. Capetown pitch needs to be investigated for preparing a pitch that looked unplayable on the first day morning, for sure.
Mohammed Siraj has won the Player of the Match award for his 6 wickets performance. Jasprit Bumrah shared Player of the Series with Dean Elgar. He took 12 wickets while Elgar made 201 runs with a big hundred at Centurion. India needs to look at the middle order batting post this Test series as that came under the scanner in both the Tests.
Well, Bumrah is now challenging Kapil Dev’s 7 fifer or 7 5-wicket hauls in one innings outside India. He took 6 and with more Tests lined up to be played outside and provided, he stays fit, we are expecting him to continue such reliable performances. India will play loads of Test Cricket this year and also, T20I CWC. Let’s see how this year will end after 2023 ending with CWC final and WTC final losses.