In their final international match of 2023, the Indian cricket team faced a disappointing performance against South Africa, particularly in the much-anticipated ‘Final Frontier’ series. The outcome on the field was far from what was anticipated, with India’s first innings closing at 245. South Africa, led by Dean Elgar’s remarkable 185, amassed a formidable 408-run total. The second innings witnessed a lone battle by Virat Kohli (76), but India succumbed to an all-out total of just 131. This led to a staggering defeat for India, losing the match by an innings and 32 runs.

In the second innings, only Kohli and Shubman Gill (26) managed to reach double-digit figures, while four Indian batters failed to score at all. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared his insights on the performance through a comprehensive post on social media.

Tendulkar praised South Africa for their outstanding performance, especially their pace attack that exceeded expectations in the second innings, despite the pitch becoming more favorable for batting as the match progressed. He observed that India’s shot selection throughout the Test was subpar, with only a few batters, including Elgar, Jansen, Bedingham, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, showing comfort with the bat and navigating the challenging conditions with technique and poise.

South Africa secured an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series, shattering India’s aspirations of winning a Test series in South Africa for the first time in 31 years. The only redemption for India now lies in a 1-1 draw, a possibility they can strive for during the upcoming New Year’s Test in Cape Town.

The Indian team’s lackluster batting performance reflected a sense of cluelessness and a lack of preparedness for the challenging assignment. Captain Rohit Sharma, experiencing a rough period after losing the World Cup final and being removed from Mumbai Indians’ captaincy, did not exhibit the leadership that had made him a favorite during the World Cup.

The team, much like its skipper, appeared disheveled and without a plan B for course correction. With Bob Marley’s iconic “Don’t worry, Everything Gonna be Alright” played in the background, the Indian team must be reflecting on how nothing went right throughout the entire course of the match.

In a candid and explosive statement, former Cricket South Africa president Dr. Ali Bacher has expressed concern over the growing dominance of cricket by India, Australia, and England, while other boards, including South Africa, Pakistan, and the West Indies, are being marginalized. Dr. Bacher, a pivotal figure in bringing Proteas cricket to the mainstream post-apartheid, shared his views during an exclusive interview while observing India and South Africa opening Test.

“Cricket today is dominated by India, Australia, England. South Africa has been marginalised, Pakistan has been marginalised, West Indies have been marginalised. That’s not good,”

remarked Dr. Bacher, emphasizing the need to grow the game globally. He expressed disappointment that his earlier objective, during his tenure as chairman of ICC’s development committee, to spread the game worldwide is not being realized today.

Dr. Bacher addressed the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) efforts to promote the sport in the United States. While acknowledging the ambitious plans, he expressed skepticism about cricket’s massive growth in the USA due to substantial financial requirements.

“You need billions and billions of dollars to get a small niche of that (USA) market. To be honest, I called it a day after two occasions. It wasn’t going to happen,” he recalled.

Instead, he advocated for the growth of cricket in Asia, citing the enormous potential in countries like South Korea and Japan. Dr. Bacher cautioned against pursuing the US. market, noting the massive investments in other sports like baseball, basketball, and rugby.

Speaking about the current state of South African cricket, Dr. Bacher acknowledged a decline in world-class players but expressed optimism about the nation’s cricket future. He reminisced about the strong cricketing legacy with players like AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, and Shaun Pollock highlighting the current world-class talent, Kagiso Rabada.

Reflecting on the commercial growth of Indian cricket, Dr. Bacher recalled a time when he negotiated broadcast rights with Jagmohan Dalmiya, stating,

“When I asked (Jagmohan) Dalmiya, how much people would come to watch, he said around 100,000 at Eden Gardens. At that time, cricket broadcast in India was controlled by Doordarshan. I offered a quarter million rands, and he (Dalmiya) couldn’t believe it.”

Despite the evolving dynamics in global cricket, Dr. Bacher expressed satisfaction at being a part of cricket’s commercial success in India, attributing it to the country’s massive cricket-loving population.

In a farewell series that resonates with emotion, South Africa’s Dean Elgar etched his name in cricket history with a remarkable century against India on the second day of the first Test. The animated celebrations that followed were not just about reaching a century but also about the joy of finally gracing the honours board inside the Centurion home changeroom.

Elgar, a stalwart who plies his trade for the Centurion-based Northerns Titans in domestic cricket, concluded the second day unbeaten at 140 — a significant milestone as it marked his first Test century at his home ground.

His innings showcased not only brilliant composure on a challenging pitch but also a masterful display of skill in punishing loose deliveries. With 23 fours to his name, Elgar’s century unfolded over 211 deliveries before bad light interrupted play, leaving South Africa at 256 for five, leading by 11 runs in the first innings.

As Elgar approaches the end of his cricketing journey, this century holds special significance, completing a set of Test centuries at all major venues in South Africa. Reflecting on the achievement, Elgar expressed delight, saying:

“It’s a special game for me, my last international fixture here, and my family and friends are watching. I haven’t had a Test hundred at Centurion before — it’s the one that got away, so I’m very happy to be on the board.”

Addressing his teammates’ misconceptions about his Centurion record, Elgar humorously remarked,

“We spoke about it in the changeroom; some of the guys thought I had made a few centuries here, but I had to tell them I’ve been rubbish here.”

His previous highest score at the venue was 95 against Sri Lanka in 2020.

Elgar credited his success to favourable conditions and a mindset geared towards aggressive yet calculated play, especially against the intense Indian bowlers. Reflecting on the challenges posed by the moving ball, he emphasized the importance of looking to score and capitalizing on opportunities.

Earlier in the match, former opener Lokesh Rahul showcased his batting prowess in the middle-order for the visitors. Scoring a resilient 101 out of India’s total of 245, Rahul navigated the challenging conditions with 14 fours and four sixes. Speaking about his approach, Rahul highlighted the need to adapt to the situation, especially when batting with the tail.

Despite the difficulty posed by the bowler-friendly conditions, Rahul expressed his enjoyment of playing at the venue, appreciating the fast outfield that allows for scoring boundaries. As the series unfolds, these memorable performances create lasting impressions, contributing to the rich narrative of international cricket.

In an insightful revelation, former South Africa cricket team captain Faf du Plessis dissects the reasons behind the struggles faced by Indian batters when contending with the conditions set by the Proteas. As India gears up for a Test series in South Africa, commencing on December 26 in Centurion under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, Faf sheds light on the distinct characteristics of South African pitches, highlighting the heightened bounce as a factor introducing ‘additional risk’ for Indian batsmen.

“It’s the bounce. Here, you encounter almost a full hand’s height of extra bounce compared to the familiar conditions in India. While Indian batsmen are accustomed to playing shots on the up, the combination of increased bounce and lateral movement introduces an additional layer of risk. Success in South Africa lies in mastering the skill of leaving well and maintaining a substantial presence at the crease,”

explains Faf in an exclusive discussion with The Indian Express.

Drawing from past encounters, the former South African skipper imparts valuable advice to Indian batters facing the Proteas’ formidable bowling attack. Reflecting on the closely contested 2018 series, Faf underscores the crucial role of disciplined shot selection, urging Indian batsmen to judiciously leave well-executed deliveries while seizing opportunities presented by poorly bowled balls to accumulate pivotal runs. According to Faf, the key ingredients for success in South Africa involve patience, unwavering respect for prevailing conditions, and a strategic approach to navigating short deliveries with extra bounce.

In a historic moment, 24-year-old pacer Arshdeep Singh etched his name on the cricket annals as the first Indian fast bowler to claim a five-wicket haul against South Africa in ODIs. The remarkable feat unfolded during the opening ODI clash between India and South Africa in Johannesburg. Arshdeep showcased exceptional skill, seizing 5/37 in 10 overs at an impressive economic rate of 3.7. His fiery bowling dismantled the South African top order, dismissing key players such as Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.

This accomplishment positions Arshdeep as the fourth Indian bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul against South Africa in ODIs. Sunil Joshi, a spinner, set the precedent in 1999 with a remarkable 5/6. Subsequently, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (5/22) in 2018 at Centurion and Ravindra Jadeja (5/33) in 2023 at Kolkata achieved similar milestones.

Reflecting on his outstanding performance, Arshdeep shared his strategy, emphasizing simplicity and expressing pride in opening his ODI wicket account with a five-wicket haul. Despite challenging conditions, including surprising movement on the pitch and scorching heat, Arshdeep credited adaptability as key for bowlers.

In the game itself, the Proteas’ decision to bat first backfired as Indian pacers Arshdeep and Avesh Khan wreaked havoc. Only De Zorzi and Phehlukwayo made decent contributions as South Africa were bowled out for 116 in 27.3 overs. Arshdeep (5/37) and Avesh (4/27) emerged as the standout bowlers for India, with spinner Kuldeep Yadav securing one wicket.

As India set out to chase 117 runs for victory and a 1-0 series lead, Arshdeep’s phenomenal performance undoubtedly set the stage for an exciting cricket encounter.

India are yet to face defeat in the 2023 World Cup, and their most significant challenge came on the league stage against South Africa at the challenging Eden Gardens. In a remarkable display, the Indian bowlers dismantled the South African batting lineup, securing a historic 243-run victory that extended their unbeaten run in the tournament.

Mohammed Shami, a crucial figure in India’s successful second phase of the league stage, didn’t hold back in his assessment of South Africa following this resounding win.

Before the match, India’s bowling unit faced a stern test, especially after Hardik Pandya’s unfortunate ankle injury ruled him out of the remainder of the World Cup. South Africa have been relentless against their opposition’s bowling attacks, consistently scoring 350 or more in four out of their seven matches, including a tournament-high 428 for five. With the likes of Quinton de Kock, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen in superb form, South Africa appeared a formidable batting lineup.

However, when facing India, South Africa’s batting order crumbled dramatically, primarily due to Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul. They were bowled out for a mere 83 runs in just 27.1 overs, with Marco Jansen batting at No. 7, being the top scorer with a 30-ball 14.

After the astonishing win, Mohammad Kaif, a former Indian cricketer on the Star Sports panel, playfully asked Shami about the competition level, saying,

“You beat Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Where will we get a new team now, from the moon?”

It’s worth noting that besides South Africa, India has also defeated three other teams that have scored 350 or more at least once in this World Cup – Australia (3), New Zealand (2), and England (1).

Shami responded with his trademark bluntness, saying,

“Har baar 400 paar karne waalon ka haal dekho” (Look at the condition of the team that consistently scores over 400 runs).”

With two wickets in just four overs against South Africa, Shami added to his tally of 14 wickets in four appearances in this World Cup, including two five-wicket hauls. He now stands as India’s top wicket-taker in the tournament’s history.