A thrilling day of cricket unfolded in New Delhi as two exceptional players, Kagiso Rabada and KL Rahul, showcased their skills on the first day of the two-Test series. Rabada, the paceman, delivered an impressive performance, taking 5 wickets for 44 runs, including three almost unplayable deliveries to Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and R Ashwin. He also outwitted Rohit Sharma and Shardul Thakur. On the other hand, Rahul, who was taking up the wicketkeeping duties for the first time in Tests, displayed a combination of technique, determination, and controlled aggression, scoring a valuable 70 runs (105 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes). Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged the significance of Rahul’s contribution, equating it to a century. Throughout his innings, Rahul demonstrated a keen eye and played the ball with impeccable timing.
Despite rain interruptions and challenging pitch conditions with bounce, seam, and swing, India managed to reach 208-8 at stumps after 59 overs. The start of play was delayed by half an hour and the day’s play ended 80 minutes earlier due to rain. The moisture in the pitch made scoring runs difficult for the batsmen. Rohit Sharma admitted that losing the toss was advantageous given the conditions.
The Indian lower order faced several challenges as they tried to extend the innings and support Rahul. Shardul Thakur was struck on the helmet by Coetzee, resulting in swelling on his forehead, and also suffered a blow on the forearm from Rabada. Jasprit Bumrah was hit on the fingers by Rabada as well. Despite the setbacks, Rabada proved to be a handful for the Indian batsmen. He enticed Rohit into a pull shot that ended in the hands of the fine-leg fielder. After lunch, Rabada deceived Shreyas Iyer with a delivery that jagged back, causing him to misjudge the length. Rabada then dismissed Virat Kohli, who was caught behind, with a ball that angled in and moved away. R Ashwin struggled to handle the bounce and was also dismissed. This period after lunch saw India lose three wickets for just 30 runs. Rabada’s exceptional performance earned him his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests, with a strike rate of less than 40, making him the all-time leader in strike rate among bowlers who have played 60-plus Tests. His career Test average stands at an impressive 22. While Shreyas and Kohli were dropped by South Africa, debutant left-arm pacer Nandre Burger provided valuable support to Rabada.
In their bowling attack, India opted for a four-pronged pace strategy, handing a Test cap to Prasidh Krishna. Unfortunately, regular captain Tenda Bavuma suffered a muscle injury while fielding.
As wickets fell at regular intervals for India, Rahul stood firm and played a crucial role in keeping India in the game. Despite losing eight wickets on the first day, India’s position is still competitive, thanks to Rahul’s resilient knock.
On the first day of the two-Test series between India and South Africa, both teams witnessed standout performances from Kagiso Rabada and KL Rahul. Rabada, the South African paceman, took 5 wickets for 44 runs, including three impressive deliveries to dismiss Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and R Ashwin. He also outsmarted Rohit Sharma and Shardul Thakur. On the other hand, Rahul, who was playing as a wicketkeeper for the first time in Tests, showcased excellent technique, determination, and controlled aggression, scoring an invaluable 70 runs. Despite losing eight wickets and rain affecting play, India managed to reach a total of 208-8 at stumps. Rabada’s performance was particularly noteworthy as he achieved his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests and has the best strike rate among bowlers who have played 60 or more Tests. Despite the challenging conditions, Rahul’s knock has kept India in the game.
Disclaimer: Only the headline and content of this report may have been reworked by Newsearay, staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed. The Article was originally published on Source link
