Tag: Ranchi Test

Ranchi Test: Virat Kohli breaks Mohammad Azharuddin record as India bully South Africa.

Source – indiatoday.in

Virat Kohli on Monday went past Mohammad Azharuddin as the Indian captain who has enforced the follow-on most times in Test cricket after the hosts asked the South Africans to bat again on Day 3 of the Ranchi Test.

Kohli enforced the follow-on for the 8th time as captain of India, Azharuddin had done it 7 times while MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly enforced it 5 and 4 times, respectively.

India, who had declared on 497 for 9 on Sunday, took a first-innings lead of 335 after bowling South Africa out for 162 by the second session on day 3. This is the second biggest first innings lead for India against South Africa after the 347-run lead they took in the Kolkata Test in 2009-10.

Umesh Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he finished with 3 for 40 while Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and debutant Shahbaz Nadeem bagged a couple of wickets each.

Umesh’s performance saw him become only the second fast bowler to pick 3-plus wickets in five successive innings on home soil after West Indies legend Courtney Walsh.

The struggle for the Proteas continued on Monday with captain Faf du Plessis getting out in the first over of the day, thanks to an unplayable delivery from Umesh.

The wickets kept on tumbling from there on as the visitors lost 4 in the first session to reach lunch at 129 for 6.

Zubayr Hamza (62), Temba Bavuma (32) and George Linde (37) offered some resistance but it was still not enough as the Indian bowlers hunted in packs and kept putting pressure on the batsmen in overcast conditions.

Earlier on Sunday, India had declared their innings on 497/9 and had picked the wickets of both the South African openers before play was stopped because of bad light.


Ranchi Test: Kohli’s struggle with DRS continues.

Source – cricketnmore.com

 India skipper Virat Kohli’s struggle to get the Decision Review System (DRS) right continued as he became prey to a wrong call for the ninth successive time as batsman in the first innings of the third Test against South Africa on Saturday.

Kohli was trapped in front by Anrich Nortje for 12 and it looked plumb, but the ace batsman reviewed it to no avail.

India slumped to 39/3 before centurion Rohit Sharma (117 batting) and Ajinkya Rahane (83 batting) joined hands for a 185-run unbroken stand as India reached 224/3 before bad light stopped play.

With the duo of Rohit and Rahane steadying the ship for India, batting coach Vikram Rathour praised both the batsmen. Rathour said that Rohit showed grit and determination to play away the first session when the likes of Kagiso Rabada had the ball moving viciously.

“As I said, they were bowling in good areas and there was some help in the wicket. So, as a batsman, you have to survive during that time, which Rohit did very well,” he said.

“He is too good a player to not play all formats. Opening the batting with him was the right decision. And the number of runs he has scored, he has settled the issue (of opening) for the time being.

“If somebody of his stature starts coming good at the top of the order, that changes everything for the team, even when you are touring. He is such an experienced player; I don’t think you need to tinker with his technique. He just had to make some mental adjustments vis-a-vis his gameplan.”

Commenting on Rahane’s knock, the former India opener said that the Test deputy showed great intent and looked good in the middle during his unbeaten knock of 83.

“Ajinkya showed great intent today. Whenever he bats with this intent, he looks a really good player,” Rathour said.