South Africa beat Team India by an innings and 32 runs at Centurion, marking another Test series which the Men in Blue failed to win against The Proteas.

A disappointing outing from the visitors saw the team get bundled out at just 131 in the 2nd innings after a dominant display by the Protea pacers secured the victory for The Proteas.

Here are some reasons which led to the huge defeat –

Top order struggles

Things didn’t go as the Indian top order had planned right from the start of the Boxing Day Test as skipper Rohit Sharma and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal lost their wickets cheaply on Day 1, eventually putting huge pressure on the incoming batters.

Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal managed to score a collective total of just 27 runs throughout the 1st Test match which revealed a big weakness for the pacers to counter on.

Virat Kohli Vs South Africa in the 2nd innings.

– The man again and again takes up the responsibility and delivers. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/98Zfdj5hYH

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 28, 2023

Exclusion of experienced batters

The exclusion of veteran batters like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara had come to the surprise of many fans and pundits with the team going for a miden series win in South Africa.

It seemed as if a Pujara or a Rahane could’ve batted more smartly on what was a tricky Centurion pitch to bat on.

Shubman Gill also failed to contribute in any way with the young batter scoring a total of 28 runs in the 1st Test.

KL Rahul said, “today I’ve scored a hundred so people are singing praises. 3-4 months ago, everybody was abusing me. It’s part of the game, but I can’t say it doesn’t affect you. It does. The sooner you realise that staying away from it is good for your game the better it is”. pic.twitter.com/mYV6XvTtqj

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 28, 2023

Injury Concerns

Team India were dealt with huge body blows in the form of ODI World Cup star Mohd Shami and Ruturaj Gaikwad being ruled out of the series due to injuries. Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan had also asked to be released from the squad due to ‘mental fatigue’ which took some valuable options away from the squad.

Dean Elgar

South Africa’s veteran Test batter Dean Elgar looked in sublime form and cruised through the challenges in front of him in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Siraj etc. Elgar’s fearless 185 runs proved to be crucial for The Proteas who put up a mammoth 408-run total for Team India on Day 3. Playing in his retirement series and that too in his home ground, Dean Elgar brought his best cricket with him.

SOUTH AFRICA DEFEATED INDIA BY AN INNINGS AND 32 RUNS…!!!! pic.twitter.com/eoitzDpxn6

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 28, 2023

Proteas Pacers

What turned out to be the most influential aspect of South Africa’s win was how the Protea pacers decimated the Indian batting lineup. Bowlers including debutant Nandre Burger and Kagiso Rabada bamboozled the Indian batters by their pace and swing. The battle turned out to be a one sided affair in the end apart from the gritty knock of KL Rahul whose 101 on Day 2 saved India the blemishes and steered them to 208/8 in the end of Day 2.

The defeat means that India are still without a Test series win against The Proteas on away turf. Sri Lanka remains to be the only Asian team who have managed to clinch a Test series triumph away from home.

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