In a cricketing saga that unfolded at Newlands, Cape Town, Team India’s rollercoaster journey on Day 1 of the second Test against South Africa became the talk of the town. The standout moment was Virat Kohli’s display of sportsmanship as he folded his hands and made bow-and-arrow gestures when Keshav Maharaj entered the crease, accompanied by the resonating tune of ‘Ram Siya Ram.’
India’s bowlers, spearheaded by the phenomenal Mohammed Siraj, dismantled the Proteas batting lineup, restricting them to a mere 55 runs. Siraj’s exceptional 6/15 figures, coupled with contributions from Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar, left South Africa reeling and marked their lowest total against India in Test history.
However, the drama didn’t end there. India, positioned strongly at 153/4, witnessed an astonishing collapse, losing their last six wickets without adding a single run—a world record for most wickets at the same score in any format. Lungi Ngidi’s triple-wicket maiden and Kagiso Rabada’s swift follow-up wreaked havoc.
In South Africa’s second innings, they faced another setback, losing three wickets and reaching 62. Kohli and KL Rahul’s partnership had initially put India in a commanding position, but a sudden collapse turned the tables.
Kohli’s gracious gesture, combined with the thrilling cricketing events, created a gripping narrative, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next chapters in this gripping Test series.