🏏South Africa vs India, 1st Test: SuperSport Park, Centurion 🏏 - Page 80

Dean Elgar | Player of the Match: Pretty special knock. Sometimes what we want to do hasn't worked out as plans, but happy that it worked today. I think you need to keep things nice and simple, the game is already pretty complex. Focus on the ball, play nice and straight. Play late and be great. You got to ride the roller when it is in your favour. Good partnerships with Tony, and then Jansen should his talent as well. You need fast bowlers and a spinner potentially to take 20 wickets, that's how we win Test matches. KG was brilliant, but then Nadre showed why he has been such a shining light for South African cricket. First few days were overcast, and close to sellout. Crowds don't need much motivation to come out and watch their cricket or rugby in Pretoria. You can't win a 2 Test series if you don't win the first one, the Indians are difficult to beat. We'll have a few days out to relax and enjoy this. We were pretty clinical, our fielding wasn't the best and we didn't make it too easy for ourselves at times

Rajat Patidar just dismissed for 33 & next over sarfaraz out for 34,

Tilak varma & Jurel ( keeper) at the crease. India 160 for 4

Rohit Sharma: Not good enough. Got decent runs having been put in. KL Rahul batted brilliantly, but we failed to exploit conditions with the ball. Batting was poor in the second innings, Virat batted brilliantly but if you have to win Tests, have to come together collectively. We failed to do that. Guys have come here before, we understand what to expect from the conditions. Every individual has his own plan. Our batters were challenged at different times. We didn't adapt well. We didn't bat well both times which is why we stand here. There were some positives. Not a lot when you finish the game inside three days. KL the way he batted, he showed what you need to do on that kind of pitch. Don't want to be too critical on the bowlers, they haven't played much here. We'll regroup and come back. It's important to regroup as quickly as we can, tough from a loss like these but as sportsmen you go through these times. Got to pick ourselves up.

Dean Elgar is the Player of the Match for his 185. "Pretty special for me, rather just smile than cry (this is his farewell series) and enjoy the moment. Contribute to this team is what I've always wanted to do. Hasn't worked out sometimes, but it did here, massive effort to pick 20 wickets. It was a juicy wicket. Got to keep nice and simple, batting in Tests you have to simplify things. Focus on the ball, play nice and straight, play late. Wickets like that, one's got your name on it, got to ride the wave when it's in your favour. Good partnerships with Tony, David and Jans. You need fast bowlers and spinner potentially to take 20 wickets, need guys firing. KG was amazing, and a guy like Nandre just came to the fore. Awesome to see his performances. Really great team performance going forward. Glad to leave here on a high.

Flashback of 2021 Capetown ( Newland test) we dismissed SA 210 in 1st innings but our bowlers lack Killing Instics in the 2nd innings so SA won by 7 wkts

Not easy for our batsman for upcoming 2nd test, our 1st 3 need to bats better

Originally posted by: Rosyme

SA 401/8

Jansen s hurt in his finger.

Lead by 156 runs.

Rohit Sharma has to play a captain s knock now.

Do you think our bowlers hit rabada on hand? I mean bowling hand, that is the only way rohit can stop Rabada taking his wicket

Rabada took 43 wkts vs india in 8 test while away from SA vs other countries he took under 10 wkts in 7 test.

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/david-warner-plays-his-final-boxing-day-test-innings-bids-goodbye-to-mcg-in-whites/article67682588.ece

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/injured-bavuma-ruled-out-of-cape-town-test-1414650

ElGar captain in 2nd test while Zubair Hamza has been included ( South Africa A player ) for next Capetown test

The bowlers might be pointing fingers at the batters, and the batters would ask why Elgar and Jansen were allowed to score so freely. But the truth is that the Indians were outclassed by a team much more in sync and ready for the conditions.

Anyway, it is past now, and let us move on into 2024 with hope and a positive mindset.

Second Test

South Africa vs India

2nd Test, Cape Town, January 03 - 07, 2024,

Originally posted by: Nishnesh

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/injured-bavuma-ruled-out-of-cape-town-test-1414650

ElGar captain in 2nd test while Zubair Hamza has been included ( South Africa A player ) for next Capetown test