"If We Have To Win Test Matches...": Rohit Sharma's Honest Admission After Embarrassing Loss To South Africa

28.12.2023 - 17:36 sports.ndtv.com

India skipper Rohit Sharma had no qualms about admitting that his team was simply not good enough to challenge South Africa, putting the blame for the embarrassing innings and 32 run loss in the first Test on the lack of collective effort.

India put up a shoddy show both with bat and ball as they were bundled out for 131 in 34.1 overs in their second innings after they allowed South Africa to score 408 in 108.4 overs in their first essay.

The visitors had scored 245 in the first innings. "We were not good enough to win. Having been put in to bat, KL (Rahul) batted well to get us that score but then we didn't exploit the conditions with the ball and then again didn't show up today with the bat," said Rohit during the post-match presentation. "If we have to win Test matches, we have to come together collectively and we didn't do that.

Guys have come here before, we know what to expect and everyone has their own plan. "Our batters were challenged and we didn't adapt well.

cricket South Africa Cricket Team India Cricket Team South Africa vs India Test loss Rohit Sharma South Africa India

With just one wicket to go and three reviews remaining, the Indian cricket team decided to make use of their resources, although knowing that the result was unlikely to come in their favour. Mohammed Siraj hit South Africa's Nandre Burger high on the right right, on Day 2 of the second Test at Cape Town, but the umpire had little interest in rewarding Team India's appeal. However, realising that India have three DRS calls to spare, Rohit contemplated going for a review, after a brief discussion with teammates, but eventually decided against taking it.

Watch: Rohit Sharma's Animated Reaction After Taking Aiden Markram's Catch In Second Test vs South Africa

Emotions were heavily invested during the Indian cricket team's second and final Test match against South Africa at Newlands, Capetown. The guests suffered an innings-and-32-run drubbing in the first Test match in Centurion and this was their only chance to make up for it with a series-levelling win. Team India came with added energy and went on to win the game by 7 wickets that too within two days. What the win meant for the side was clearly visible when India skipper Rohit Sharma vented out his frustration with an animated celebration after taking the catch of Aiden Markram. The wicket more or less made sure that India had to chase a paltry total.

Watch: Rohit Sharma's Animated Reaction After Taking Aiden Markram's Catch In Second Test vs South Africa

"It Is Dangerous...": Fuming Rohit Sharma Wants Indian Pitch Critics 'To Keep Mouths Shut' After 2-Day India vs South Africa Test

A two-day Test is bound to generate a lot of question marks. The same is happening with the India vs South Africa second Test that ended in less than five sessions on Thursday. As many as 23 wickets tumbled on day one with the hosts being bowled out for 55 and the visitors for 153 before India lost three more wickets in their second innings. In the second session of the second day, India completed the task in 12 overs. Only 107 overs were bowled - making it the shortest Test match ever.

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The Indian cricket team on Thursday capped off the tour to South Africa with a seven-wicket win in the second Test match and sqaured the series 1-1. It was a match that belonged to Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, who picked 15 wickets among themselves. In the first innings, Siraj picked 6 for 15 while Bumrah scalped two wickets. In the following innings of South Africa, Bumrah returned figures of 6 for 61 while Siraj also picked one wicket.

India complete seven-wicket win in record-breaking test v South Africa

CAPE TOWN :India chased down a modest victory target of 79 to claim a seven-wicket win over hosts South Africa in the second test at Newlands on Thursday and share the two-match series 1-1 after an extraordinary game finished inside five sessions.