The riveting two-match Test series between India and South Africa culminated with India securing a crucial seven-wicket victory in Cape Town. This victory propelled India to the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings, gaining 12 pivotal points. Initially, South Africa held the lead in the WTC 25′ standings, but the loss not only saw them share the spoils with India but also dropped their win percentage to 50%, aligning them with New Zealand, Australia, and Bangladesh.
Despite India’s batting collapse in the second Test, their bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, delivered a stellar performance, restricting South Africa to 176 in the second innings. Aiden Markram’s sensational hundred saved the hosts from dire straits. India’s batters, displaying a positive start, efficiently chased down the 79-run target within 12 overs, securing their second win in the current WTC cycle.
Remarkably, this Test set a new record for the shortest completed match in terms of the number of balls bowled, surpassing a 92-year-old record with only 642 balls needed for a result. The previous record dated back to a 1932 Australia vs. South Africa Test that took 656 balls.
Looking ahead, India aims to accumulate more points in the WTC25 cycle during their upcoming home Test series against England, featuring five matches starting on January 25.
While India’s victory showcased their resilience, the brief Test may undermine the essence of the longer format. The series should be bigger in terms of matches moving forward. This gives India an actual chance of winning its first series on South African soil.
