Team India is poised to face South Africa in the second Test of the present two-match series to rescue the Test series.
The match is set to take place on Wednesday, January 3 at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town.
The tourists struggled in the first Test, which was held at Centurion’s SuperSport Park. India was limited to 245 after being allowed to bat first, with KL Rahul producing a superb century.
In response, South Africa controlled the roost, scoring 408 runs in their first innings to build a commanding 163-run lead.
Dean Elgar, who will retire from international cricket after this series, smashed the Indian spinners for 185 runs.
The Indian batsmen failed in their attempt to make a match out of the scenario, putting up a poor showing
Despite Virat Kohli’s 76, India only managed 131 runs and lost the game by an innings and 32 runs.
While South Africa outperformed India in every category, the visitors appeared hesitant in their approach.
The Rohit Sharma-led team, on the other hand, will strive to regroup after the setback and finish the series on a positive note.
Having said that, history does not bode well for Team India in Cape Town. The Men in Blue have lost all six Tests they have played at the site.
So far, they have lost four of the six Tests and drawn two.
The Newlands Stadium, located at the slopes of Table Mountain, is frequently thought to assist pacers with its grass, swing, and bounce.
Batters may struggle since there may be some lateral mobility available.
In 2022, India lost the last Test against South Africa in Cape Town
The last time India played a Test match at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, they were defeated. South Africa won the series-deciding third Test of the 2021/22 series by seven wickets.
India got off to a good start after deciding to bat first. While Mayank Agarwal (12) and KL Rahul (15) failed to convert their starts, Cheteshwar Pujara (43) and Virat Kohli (79) did.
The Indian bottom order, on the other hand, struggled to get going, as South Africa limited India to 223 runs, with Kagiso Rabada claiming four wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah kept India in the game with a fantastic five-wicket haul (5/42) that reduced South Africa’s innings to 210.
Keegan Petersen accounted for over 35% of the runs, scoring 72 off 166. India needs a strong second innings performance to regain control of the Test match.
A formidable Proteas pace attack, however, upset the Indian top order and reduced them to 58/4. Kohli was also out for 29, and things looked bad for the visitors.
That’s when Rishabh Pant produced one of his finest Test innings, scoring 100 off 139 balls. He smashed six boundaries and four sixes to enable India to set a fourth-innings goal of 212.
Although India wanted to unsettle South Africa’s batting innings on the final two days of the Test, the results were quite the reverse.
The hosts hit the goal, with contributions from every batsman in the top order. Dean Elgar made 30 points while Aiden Markram got disqualified for 16.
Petersen, on the other hand, was the star of the chase, slamming 10 fours in his innings and looking in charge against a superb Indian bowling attack.
His 82 ended Team India’s aspirations before an undefeated 57-run stand between Rassie van der Dussen (41*) and Temba Bavuma (32*) completed South Africa’s run-chase.