Page 12 - India Vs South Africa

IND vs SA 2nd Test preview: Bowlers face tall task; Rohit seeks redemption

Rohit Sharma, the leader, will need to channelise the champion tactician that resides in him as India look to restore parity against South Africa and remain consequential in the World Championship points table when the second Test starts here on Wednesday. Ravindra Jadeja, India's "Most Valuable Player" across formats, will come back to add the requisite middle-order batting balance and steady overs with the old Kookaburra but it will be the skipper's choice of third and fourth speed merchants that will define the embattled team's response. As harsh as it might sound, no one knows more than Rohit that Prasidh Krishna is pretty undercooked to counter the vagaries of Test cricket and Shardul Thakur's bits and pieces talent will not win him much on most days. But with three top-order batters, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer compounding the team's worries with their ineptitude while dealing with the bouncer barrage, Shardul's presence gives the side an assumption of ...

IND vs SA 2nd Test: Shreyas Iyer faces short ball barrage in net session

Virat Kohli looked a million dollars as he did extensive simulation for South Africa's left-arm pacer Nandre Burger but Shreyas Iyer's problems seemed to continue while facing a barrage of short balls at nets here on Monday. On the New Year's Day, it was business as usual for Kohli, who had an extended session lasting close to an hour. First, he was at the centre nets against bowlers and then he faced high-intensity throwdowns for about 20 to 25 minutes at outside nets. Kohli is known to come to nets with specific purpose and on Monday, it seemed he wanted to extensively bat against a left-arm pacer. Since the Indian team's pace bowling roster doesn't include a left-armer, a net bowler was summoned and Kohli faced a good 25 to 30 deliveries from him in between playing against Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin and Avesh Khan. Kohli was repeatedly seen putting in a big stride forward and at times walking a couple of steps to whip the bowler through mid wicket. However, the on

Test's future in hands of administrators: Dean Elgar on prioritising SA20

With nothing to lose on the eve of his final international outing, Dean Elgar didn't hold back while expressing his disgust about Cricket South Africa sending a third-string squad to New Zealand under an uncapped captain just because the series is coinciding with the cash-rich SA20. It is a situation the 36-year-old Elgar, the stand-in captain for the second, and final, Test against India at Newlands, termed as "not ideal." "I still think Test cricket will have a future and in speaking to the younger guys in the dressing room, they still live for the format," Elgar said on Tuesday during his last pre-match conference. "The situation we've been put in from a cricketing fraternity perspective isn't ideal and maybe the team that's selected to go to New Zealand isn't ideal for the conversation of how I see Test cricket," Elgar was straightforward in his observations. Neil Brand will lead the Proteas team with seven uncapped players and none with even 10 Test experience against a strong

IND vs SA: Rohit focuses on Mukesh in net session, Jadeja goes full tilt

It was an optional session at the Supersport Park but for India skipper Rohit Sharma, skipping the nets wasn't an option. Outfoxed by South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada in both innings of the opening Test, Rohit was present as skipper and batter in equal measure during a two-hour session. The Indian captain was focussed on facing Mukesh Kumar, who bowled only to Rohit for at least 45 minutes. While the fit-again Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin also bowled in the same nets, the Indian skipper's complete attention was on the one Test old Bengal seamer. Occasionally, Dayanand Garani, the throwdown specialist kept his deliveries fast and full on off stump channel. He actually wanted Mukesh to bowl one that comes in with the angle from length. "Hawa mein andaar aa raha hai. Par koshish kar angle se andar laane ka," the skipper told his younger colleague. Rohit specifically wanted Mukesh to pitch in between 4-6 metre length and the seamer seemed to have impressed the ..

IND vs SA 2nd Test: Gerald Coetzee ruled out due to pelvic inflammation

Gerald Coetzee was not at his best in the first Test, picking just one wicket in both innings combined and scoring only 19 runs with the bat

IND vs SA Test: Prasidh's performance hints at India's bare bench strength

A few weeks ago, India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey in an interview to PTI was very clear that no coach can claim credit to have created a pacer of Mohammed Shami's calibre. On the second and third day of the first Test against South Africa when Dean Elgar, David Bedingham and Marco Jansen were making a mockery of Shardul Thakur and debutant Prasidh Krishna, Shami's absence was felt like never before. It could be said with a degree of certainty that Prasidh might have played his first and last Test for some time and in the next game Ravindra Jadeja and Avesh Khan would walk into the playing XI in place of him and Shardul Thakur. The Indian fans got a reality check that the country's second line of red ball bowlers aren't exactly finished products and the days of dominance due to Jasprit Bumrah, Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav could be all but over. Ishant and Umesh are unofficially done with their Test careers and Shami is nearer to end rather than start. Th

IND vs SA 2nd Test: Elgar named Proteas captain, Hamza replaces Bavuma

Proteas regular skipper Bavuma, who was injured in the first Test, has been replaced by Zubayr Hamza in the squad while Dean Elgar has been named skipper

Avesh Khan added to India's squad ahead of second Test against South Africa

A day after their embarrassing defeat to hosts South Africa in the first Test, India called up right-arm fast bowler Avesh Khan on Friday in a bid to bolster their pace attack for the second and final Test at Cape Town. India lost the opening Test by an innings and 32 runs here on Thursday, the match ending in three days. The right-arm fast bowler was named as a replacement for Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out of the two Tests as he did not get the necessary clearance from the BCCI medical team. "The Men's Selection Committee has named Mr Avesh Khan as a replacement for Mr Mohd. Shami for the second Test against South Africa to be played from 3rd-7th January 2024 in Cape Town," the board said in a release. The 27-year-old Avesh, who has so far claimed 149 wickets in 38 first-class games at 22.65, was a part of India's victorious campaign in the three-match ODI series against South Africa before the Tests in which he took six wickets. Avesh is currently busy representing the India

IND vs SA 2nd Test: Jadeja starts training, may find place in India XI

Amid the doom and gloom following a humiliating defeat, the Indian cricket team has some good news as senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja could be available for the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, starting January 3. Jadeja missed the opening Test match after complaining of "upper back spasm" during the morning of the first day at the Supersport Park. However, on the third day of the first Test, those present at the ground saw Jadeja being a part of the warm-up session before the proceedings started in the middle. The all-rounder didn't look in any sort of discomfort as he ran multiple 30 to 40 metre short strides during the morning session. He also did a few fitness drills during the session. But the most reassuring aspect was his bowling during the lunch break on the third day. Along with reserve pacer Mukesh Kumar, Jadeja, for close to 20 minutes, bowled on a practice track and was keenly watched by the team's strength and conditioning coach, Rajnikant. He was ma

IND vs SA 1st Test: India fined for slow over rate, two WTC points docked

India have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee and two ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points were docked. India are at the sixth spot in ICC World Test Championship points table (WTC) 2023-24

Virat Kohli becomes first batter to hit 2000 runs in 7 different years

In 2012 (2186 runs), 2014 (2286 runs), 2016 (2595 runs), 2017 (2818 runs), 2018 (2735 runs), and 2019 (2455 runs), Virat Kohli already accomplished the feat.

IND vs SA: Bumrah didn't get support, this wasn't 400 plus pitch - Rohit

Jasprit Bumrah lacked support from other end as there was no reason to concede 400 plus runs on a bowling friendly track where South African speedsters showed how to go about the job, a dejected Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said on Thursday. India lost the opening Test inside three days by an innings and 32 runs after scoring 245 and 131 in the two innings but the game-changer certainly was being taken for 408 runs by South Africa in their first innings. Save Bumrah, who took four wickets and to an extent Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna got pasting of their lives. "This was not a 400-run wicket and we gave too many runs. We sprayed the ball all around, but it happens. One can't depend on one particular bowler (Bumrah), the other three pacers also needed to perform their roles, we could learn from how South Africa bowled," Rohit said after the match. He admitted that although there wasn't lack of effort but Bumrah couldn't alone keep the pressure on Proteas ...

IND vs SA 1st Test: CSA provide crucial injury update on skipper Bavuma

Bavuma was injured during the first innings on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test when he was chasing a ball driven by Virat Kohli off the bowling of Jansen

IND vs SA 1st Test Day 3 Highlights: Proteas win by innings and 32 runs

India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 3 Highlights: Proteas beat the Indian team by an innings and 32 runs thanks to heroic works from Elgar (185), Rabada (7 wickets), Burger (7 wickets) and Jansen (84*)

IND vs SA 1st Test: Elgar has no point to prove, wants to go out with bang

Dean Elgar's school of batsmanship on Wednesday was completely out of character but the stodgy left-hander is more intent on bidding adieu to international cricket with a bang than trying to prove a point to anyone. Elgar's unbeaten 140, laced with 23 boundaries, has put South Africa in a commanding position against India on the second day but the man, playing his penultimate Test, felt it was all about enjoying a day that belonged to him. "I don't think I wanted to prove any point. Just that I wanted to go out with a bang as that is standard I set for myself as there's no looking back now," Elgar said about his 14th hundred. Elgar assessed that the track had become better for batting as there was no sunshine, which would have resulted in cracks on the surface but it held firm. "It was quite a good wicket to bat on. Had there been more sun, it would have been tougher. It's just that it's been my way. Could have been another batter another day." Normally known for his defensive dog

India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 3: Centurion weather forecast on Dec 27

India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 3 weather forecast: Far more improved weather from the first two days of play will be on display on the third day in Centurion

IND vs SA 1st Test Day 2 Highlights: Dean Elgar's overshadows Rahul's ton

India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 2 Highlights: Dean Elgar's 140* took South Africa to 256/5 at the end of the day in Centurion as they led the Indian team by 11 runs. KL Rahul scored a ton as well

IND vs SA: When Virat Kohli's wizardry got India a wicket; watch video

Virat Kohli used the old Australian trick of changing the position of the bails and it helped India break the 93-run stand between de Zorzi and Elgar in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa

Always felt I was in right direction: KL Rahul on choosing cricket

KL Rahul delves into details of how he endures criticism and grows from it because playing cricket is his ultimate dream which he is living right now

In top 10 of India's Test history: Gavaskar rates Rahul's ton at Centurion

KL Rahul's brave century during the ongoing opening Test against South Africa here on Wednesday drew high acclaim from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who has rated the knock "in the top ten in the history" of India's red-ball cricket. Rahul, who walked into the middle while the Indians were four down for 92 on Day 1 on Tuesday, made a gutsy 101 off 137 balls before being knocked over by debutant pacer Nandre Burger, as the visitors were all out for 245. Commentating in Hindi on Star Sports, Gavaskar asserted that Rahul's knock had come on a difficult surface, where the ball was behaving erratically, and felt that the confidence needed to bat on such a track has to be enormous. "I have been watching cricket for over 50 years now, and I can undoubtedly say this century by Rahul has to be in the top ten of India's Test history because it's a different pitch here," Gavaskar said. "A batter would not gain the confidence so easily that he has set, especially with the ball doing anything a