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11 Balls, 6 wickets, 0 Runs: India's Spectacular Collapse vs South Africa Is A First In 147 Years

It was one of those days, where unexpected things were always round the corner in Cape Town. On a bright sunny morning on Wednesday, South Africa capitulated for just 55 with fast bowler Mohammed Siraj breathing fire. He took six wickets as India bowled out its rivals for the lowest score ever by any team against the side. However, that was just the first part of the thriller that was about to unfold. India were expected to take a huge lead. Though the Rohit Sharma-led side took the lead comfortably, the incidents that began to unravel from the 34th over of the Indian innings was beyond any explanation.

ICC Test Rankings: Virat Kohli Returns To Top 10, Jasprit Bumrah Also Jumps To Fifth Spot

India's batting talisman Virat Kohli started the new year on a good note as he re-entered the top 10 in the ICC Test rankings, climbing to ninth position, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the latest ranking update on Wednesday. Kohli, a previous top-ranked batter who fell out of the top 10 in mid-2022, has moved up four spots to ninth place with scores of 38 and 76, but is still 103 rating points behind top-ranked Kane Williamson of New Zealand (864 points). Joe Root comes in second with 859 rating points, while Steve Smith comes in third with 820.

South Africa win toss, bat first in second test v India

CAPE TOWN : South Africa captain Dean Elgar won the toss and elected to bat first in the second and final test against India amid glorious sunshine at Newlands on Wednesday as the hosts seek a series sweep against the top ranked side in the world.

"Not An Ideal Situation": Dean Elgar's Honest Take On 'Test Cricket Is Dying' Discussion

With nothing to lose on the eve of his final international outing, Dean Elgar didn't hold back while expressing his disgust about Cricket South Africa sending a third-string squad to New Zealand under an uncapped captain just because the series is coinciding with the cash-rich SA20. It is a situation the 36-year-old Elgar, the stand-in captain for the second, and final, Test against India at Newlands, termed as "not ideal." "I still think Test cricket will have a future and in speaking to the younger guys in the dressing room, they still live for the format," Elgar said on Tuesday during his last pre-match conference. "The situation we've been put in from a cricketing fraternity perspective isn't ideal and maybe the team that's selected to go to New Zealand isn't ideal for the conversation of how I see Test cricket," Elgar was straightforward in his observations.

"Didn't Happen In 1st Game...": Rohit Sharma's Honest Admission As India Make Big Changes For 2nd Test

South Africa stand-in captain Dean Elgar won the toss and opted to bat against India in the second Test in Cape Town on Wednesday. Elgar, who slammed 185 in the first Test as South Africa defeated India by an innings and 32, runs, will retire from international cricket after the match at the Newlands. The Proteas made three changes with wicketkeeper-batter Tristan Stubbs making his Test debut. Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj have also been included in the playing XI while Bavuma, Keegan Petersen and Gerald Coetzee miss out. India also made a couple of alterations from the side which was humbled by Proteas on Boxing-Day week.

"Can't Produce A Virat Kohli Every Time...": India Great's Big Warning For Shubman Gill

Legendary Indian cricket team batter Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes that Shubman Gill needs to start scoring runs consistently away from home in order to justify the fanfare around him. Gill has been exceptional for India in white-ball cricket but his numbers in Tests outside India has not been that prolific. Srikkanth pointed out that it is unfair to expect numbers similar to star batter Virat Kohli but added that Gill needs to work towards replicating such numbers and prove himself to be a valuable asset.

"We Need To Protect It": Rohit Sharma's Blunt Take On Future Of Test Cricket

Indian captain Rohit Sharma feels that it is each and every ICC member's duty to protect the sanctity of Test cricket as it remains the ultimate format. Cricket South Africa selected seven uncapped players, including an inexperienced first timer Neil Brand, for the upcoming tour of New Zealand to accommodate top stars for the cash-rich SA20, which is coinciding with the Test series. All the SA20 franchises are owned by IPL team owners and the move to prioritize franchise cricket has earned widespread criticism. “For me, Test remains ultimate challenge and we would like to see best players playing that format but everyone has own problems to deal with and make sure there is a reason behind it,” Rohit reacted when asked about the CSA move.

Only 2nd Time In History! Rohit Sharma Eyes Elusive Feat Achieved By Only MS Dhoni

Rohit Sharma will be looking to become just the second Indian cricket team skipper ever after MS Dhoni to draw a Test series in South Africa as the two teams face each other on Wednesday. India's hopes of winning a maiden Test series in South Africa were dashed after a humiliating defeat in the first Test. However, a win in the second Test will mean that Rohit will be able to achieve a feat that has happened just once in the last eight occasions. Under Dhoni's captaincy, the Test series between India and South Africa in 2010-11 ended 1-1 between the two sides. Besides 2010-11, India ended up losing the Test series in 1992-93, 1996-97, 2001-02, 2006-07, 2013, 2018, and 2021-22.

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11 Balls, 6 wickets, 0 Runs: India's Spectacular Collapse vs South Africa Is A First In 147 Years

ICC Test Rankings: Virat Kohli Returns To Top 10, Jasprit Bumrah Also Jumps To Fifth Spot

South Africa win toss, bat first in second test v India

"Not An Ideal Situation": Dean Elgar's Honest Take On 'Test Cricket Is Dying' Discussion

"Didn't Happen In 1st Game...": Rohit Sharma's Honest Admission As India Make Big Changes For 2nd Test

"Can't Produce A Virat Kohli Every Time...": India Great's Big Warning For Shubman Gill

"We Need To Protect It": Rohit Sharma's Blunt Take On Future Of Test Cricket

Only 2nd Time In History! Rohit Sharma Eyes Elusive Feat Achieved By Only MS Dhoni