In a crushing defeat for India, South Africa secured an emphatic victory by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test of the series. Despite Lokesh Rahul’s century and Virat Kohli’s commendable innings, the Indian team succumbed in less than three days of play.
Opting to bowl first, South African captain Temba Bavuma’s decision paid off as India struggled early on. Captain Rohit Sharma fell for a mere five runs, setting the tone for a challenging innings. Kohli’s 114 runs and Rahul’s century in the first innings provided some respite, but the team’s overall performance was lackluster.
South Africa’s batting display, led by Dean Elgar’s impressive 185, set a commanding total of 408. Indian bowlers, particularly Bumrah, tried to make an impact, but the South African team took a substantial 163-run lead.
In the second innings, India faltered, collapsing for 131 runs. Despite Kohli’s valiant efforts with 76 runs, the team couldn’t withstand the pressure. Nandre Berger’s four wickets and Marco Jansen’s three sealed India’s fate.
The inconsistent performance raises questions about India’s preparation and adaptability to overseas conditions.
