In a stunning turn of events, cricketing maestro Sachin Tendulkar found himself in the midst of unprecedented chaos as he boarded a Mumbai-bound flight after India’s commanding performance against South Africa in the second Test at Newlands.
India, having fought back from a series deficit, witnessed the Proteas collapsing at a mere 55 runs, their lowest total since 1932. Tendulkar, en route to Mumbai, was still savoring the brilliance of Mohammed Siraj’s spell when he left. Little did he anticipate the dramatic twists awaiting him upon landing.
Upon reaching home, Tendulkar was greeted with the shocking realization that, in a span of a little over three hours, both teams managed to lose 13 wickets on the opening day of the New Year’s Test. South Africa, despite their batting woes, rallied back, restricting India to a lead below 100 runs.
Expressing his incredulity, Tendulkar shared, “Cricket in ‘24 begins with 23 wickets falling in a single day. Unreal!” The nature of the Newlands pitch, offering steep and unpredictable bounce, contributed to the chaos, leaving both teams struggling.
As the cricketing world grapples with the unpredictability of the sport, Tendulkar’s unique perspective from the sky adds a surreal dimension to the unfolding drama on the ground.
