IND VS SA TESTS

Right then, given that this is only a two-match Test series, India have yet again failed to conquer that elusive first Test series win in South Africa which is also considered as the 'final frontier' for India. On the other hand, the Proteas have once again shown why they have been such a class red-ball outfit over the last two decades or so even with what looked like a slightly depleted and inexperienced lineup. The curtain comes down on the year 2023 as these two sides will now meet in the 2nd Test and the final match of this tour in 2024. The 2nd Test will be played at Newlands in Cape Town and will begin on the 3rd of January at 1.30 pm IST (8 am GMT). However, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and we wish everyone a Happy New Year. Cheers!

Dean Elgar, the stand-in captain for South Africa is also the Player of the match for his sublime knock of 185 runs in the first innings. He says that it's pretty special for him and gets emotional and says that he's gonna cry but will smile and enjoy the moment. Adds that contributing to the team is the main focus and the guys did well collectively as a group. It was a massive effort. Says that the wicket was quite juicy and that they planned to simplify everything without trying anything extra. Adds that a few good partnerships with Tony de Zorzi, David Bedingham and Marco Jansen really paved the way for them to get that broad lead ahead of the Indians. He appreciates David Bedingham for his phenomenal contribution on debut. He says that they needed no less than 20 wickets to get a win against such a talented Indian side. He goes on to say that Kagiso Rabada and Nandre Burger bowled amazing spells, especially Burger who shined on his debut and got the reward. In the end, he thanks the crowd and concludes by saying that he's leaving on a good positive note.

Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, says he is disappointed and feels they were not good enough to win this Test match. He adds that they batted decently in the first innings but fell short after that. He then says that every individual in the team has their own plans in place and knows what is expected out of them. He makes a note of the hard lines and lengths that the Proteas bowled which was crucial and they failed to negate it well. He also appreciates KL Rahul's knock in the first innings along with the batting performance from Virat Kohli. He further concludes that it is important for the team to regroup and get out of this loss and focus on the next one ahead of them.

The Presentation ceremony...

A marvelous inning from Virat Kohli goes in vain as only two batters get into double-figures for India in their second innings and they have bundled out for a meager score of 131 runs. It was an ominous start as skipper Rohit Sharma fell prey to Kagiso Rabada for a duck and his opening partner soon followed. Shubman Gill looked fairly settled and played some delightful shots alongside Kohli but got out and after that the middle order simply crumbled. Kohli saw that he was running out of partners and tried to muster up as many runs as possible but it was by no means enough. With the ball, Jasprit Bumrah looked like the only one who had a clear assessment of the track and even though Mohammed Siraj bowled well in patches, the other two seamers were simply off their game. KL Rahul was the only other batter apart from Kohli who actually showed grit in the first innings and along with the tail gave India half a chance in the first innings. Overall though, this was an unexpected result, one which should come as a wake-up call to the visitors.

Coming into Day 3, the Proteas were well ahead of the game having a triple-digit lead under their belt and they quickly added vital runs to take it to 163 runs before getting bundled out with a man short. Marco Jansen didn't have a say with the ball in the first innings but he certainly made and impact with the bat with a career-best 84 not out and was able to take that form into his bowling in the second innings as he picked up three big wickets. Kagiso Rabada and Nandre Burger though were the ones who did most of the damage in both innings and ended with 7 wickets each in the game. Burger just looks the part and in him, South Africa might have found a talented and aggressive left-arm pacer for the next few years. All in all, Dean Elgar dominated with the bat and in general they dominated with ball in hand as well and have taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

What an end to the 1st Test match and what a memorable one it has been for the hometown boy - Dean Elgar who leads his side to a wonderful win. There are tears in his eyes as he knows it is the last time he has played at this ground but South Africa have dominated the game against a few odds too. There was an injury cloud hovering over the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi but the former did play and was one of the chief architects of the win as well. In the absence of skipper Temba Bavuma who injured his hamstring on Day 1 itself, the others stepped up and even the two debutants - Nandre Burger and David Bedingham played vital roles in the win. As for India, it was yet again a case of relying on individual brilliance rather than playing together as a team and providing support to each other and they have suffered a huge innings defeat.

OUT! TAKEN! Wow, what a catch to end it all and fittingly it is Kagiso Rabada who takes it. Marco Jansen comes in from around the stumps and digs it in short over the stumps. Virat Kohli dances down the track and flat-bats it up and over the bowler's head without great timing. KG races across to his left from long on and takes a fine tumbling catch on the run with both hands. Jansen ends with a third wicket and the Proteas are absolutely pumped up. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 32 RUNS!

Another peach of a delivery by Burger! Back of a length which passes over the off stump. Prasidh Krishna gets squared up on that one on the outside edge.

Peach of a delivery that! Fuller and on the leg stump, Prasidh Krishna plays and misses and gets hit on the lower half of his pad. A big appeal from the keeper but the umpire turns it down.

Cannons on a back of a length into the stump line, Virat Kohli tries to flick it off his wrists but misses to connect and the ball takes his thigh pad instead and rolls behind point. The ball lobs over and Kohli sprints for a leg-bye single.

Beaten! A back-of-a-length delivery, outside the off, Virat Kohli shuffles closer to drive it over covers but gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! That's two in a row! Fuller delivery this time, outside the line of off, Virat Kohli advances down the track making some room and hoists this one over the mid off for another boundary. He is taking on the Proteas here.

FOUR! That's off the edge! Nandre Burger bangs this one a touch shorter, into the deck, outside off, Virat Kohli walks down the track and wacks it over point for a boundary.

Low full toss this time on off, Prasidh Krishna pushes it to mid on. He somehow survives lethal Rabada.

A sharp bouncer which guns into the bodyline of Prasidh Krishna, he ducks underneath in time and the ball carries through to the keeper.

On a back of a length and outside off, Virat Kohli confidently stands tall on the bounce and slashes it towards deep extra cover for a single.