New Delhi: India’s hopes of winning their first-ever Test series in South Africa were dashed after a spectacular batting collapse in the second Test in Cape Town. After losing the first Test by an innings and 32 runs in Centurion, India was bowled out for a paltry 153 in their first innings in Cape Town, losing their last six wickets for no runs in 11 balls. Seven Indian batsmen were dismissed for ducks, equalling the record for the most number of ducks in a Test innings.
India’s captain Rohit Sharma, who had expressed his ambition of achieving what no Indian captain had done before, was left disappointed as his team failed to put up a fight against the hosts. Rohit, who scored 39 in the first innings, was the only Indian batsman to cross 30 in the match. India’s batting woes were compounded by the absence of their regular opener KL Rahul, who was ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury.
India’s 6 wickets fell in 11 balls
India’s first innings in Cape Town was a horror show, as they lost wickets at regular intervals and never recovered from the early blows. India was reduced to 33 for 2 in the 13th over, as both their openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mayank Agarwal fell cheaply to Kagiso Rabada. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli tried to steady the innings with a 62-run stand, but Pujara was caught behind off Marco Jansen for 43. Ajinkya Rahane, who was under pressure to perform, lasted only 12 balls before edging Rabada to the keeper for 9.
India’s middle and lower order crumbled dramatically, as they lost their last six wickets in the space of 11 balls without adding a single run to the total. Rishabh Pant, who scored 27, was the first to go, caught by Keegan Petersen at slip off Jansen. Ravichandran Ashwin followed soon after, nicking Jansen to the keeper for 2. Shardul Thakur hit a six and a four off Keshav Maharaj but was caught by Petersen at midwicket for 12. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna all fell for ducks, as Rabada and Lungi Ngidi wrapped up the innings. Rabada finished with four wickets, while Jansen took three.
