189/10 (62.2)
CRR : 3.03
159/10 (55.0)
CRR : 2.89
South Africa won by 30 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Player
4/30 & 4/215(5)^7(20)
Go the Distance Award: Rishabh Pant (102m six)
Great Striker of the Match: Dhruv Jurel
Smart Saver of the Match: Aiden Markram
Temba Bavuma (South Africa Captain): "Yeah, very exciting. You want to be a part of these games and be on the right side of the result. It was tough for us, and we needed the bowlers to bring us back into the game.
We were able to change our bowlers frequently, and that worked for us. Our bowlers brought us in as and when they were called.
My partnership with Corbin Bosch was nice. But I would say the partnership with Jansen was key. He gave us the impetus late yesterday.
The wicket played better this morning; it wasn't as extreme as it was. It is not always the case that you score 120 and believe you are in the game. On this surface, you are always in the game.
The captaincy, you're only as good as the players!
The win, I give it to them (players). Batting, I am just comfortable with myself and my technique. I stand as still as I can, watching the ball. I have come here wanting to do well. Not a great record, but I have come here with exuberance and wanting to do well. It was about awareness, the leg opening up a little bit. The way I played it. Yeah, feels good.
In the second innings, I didn't change too much. I have played here before, and I understand the conditions, and luck also played the part in it.
We didn't have KG Rabada. He is the leader of the attack. But we have Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. The two spinners bolster our bowling attack. Something for the spinners, they can handle, and then for the pacers, we have them as well.
That was not an easy catch. I am lucky enough to hold onto Axar's catch. Crucial moment in the game. Axar had momentum on his side. Fortunately, he made a mistake, and I was able to grab it with my small hands. It was just a case of staying in the game and keeping believing. Thank you!"
We were able to change our bowlers frequently, and that worked for us. Our bowlers brought us in as and when they were called.
My partnership with Corbin Bosch was nice. But I would say the partnership with Jansen was key. He gave us the impetus late yesterday.
The wicket played better this morning; it wasn't as extreme as it was. It is not always the case that you score 120 and believe you are in the game. On this surface, you are always in the game.
The captaincy, you're only as good as the players!
The win, I give it to them (players). Batting, I am just comfortable with myself and my technique. I stand as still as I can, watching the ball. I have come here wanting to do well. Not a great record, but I have come here with exuberance and wanting to do well. It was about awareness, the leg opening up a little bit. The way I played it. Yeah, feels good.
In the second innings, I didn't change too much. I have played here before, and I understand the conditions, and luck also played the part in it.
We didn't have KG Rabada. He is the leader of the attack. But we have Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. The two spinners bolster our bowling attack. Something for the spinners, they can handle, and then for the pacers, we have them as well.
That was not an easy catch. I am lucky enough to hold onto Axar's catch. Crucial moment in the game. Axar had momentum on his side. Fortunately, he made a mistake, and I was able to grab it with my small hands. It was just a case of staying in the game and keeping believing. Thank you!"
Player of the Match: Simon Harmer
Simon Harmer (Player of the Match): "Today it probably got a little bit flatter as the ball got softer. It wasn't exploding as much. I was asking myself some hard questions if it was me. Nice to contribute, I've been here before but it was a dark place losing back-to-back Test matches. To be in this position, to be behind the 8 ball again and for the team to fight the way they did, it just shows where the group is at, what they are capable of and the belief that they have.
[on his figures being the best for a SA bowler in India] I am not a stats man. I am a win man and happy with the win. Still another Test to go in the series. We will definitely enjoy this win because they don't come around that often.
[on taking the new ball] I knew that I needed to bowl well. It was the same when we were batting. We felt like we were 1 partnership away getting ourselves into the game and it was the same with ball in hand. We knew that they were only 1 partnership away from getting really close. I just needed to try and put as many balls in the right area and trust that the wicket would do its thing. I think I missed quite a bit today. I was quite lucky with Jurel's wicket. Even Jadeja and Pant's wickets weren't the greatest balls but sometimes you bowl badly and get wickets and sometimes you bowl well and don't. Incredibly happy to be standing in this position with a win behind us.
[on missing the fifer] I was so confused at the end, I wasn't aware that Shubman wasn't going to be batting. When Kesh was running and celebrating, I was like what's going on. The personal accolades are trumped by team success. It's so cliche but yeah I bleed for the team and I am more than happy to walk away with a 4-fer.
At the end of the day if you get overawed, you can get yourself in a tricky situation. We just needed to make sure that we put the ball in the right area. There was enough in the wicket with the new ball and with the ball turning as well you got to allow them to make mistakes. The boys as a unit bowled incredibly well."
[on his figures being the best for a SA bowler in India] I am not a stats man. I am a win man and happy with the win. Still another Test to go in the series. We will definitely enjoy this win because they don't come around that often.
[on taking the new ball] I knew that I needed to bowl well. It was the same when we were batting. We felt like we were 1 partnership away getting ourselves into the game and it was the same with ball in hand. We knew that they were only 1 partnership away from getting really close. I just needed to try and put as many balls in the right area and trust that the wicket would do its thing. I think I missed quite a bit today. I was quite lucky with Jurel's wicket. Even Jadeja and Pant's wickets weren't the greatest balls but sometimes you bowl badly and get wickets and sometimes you bowl well and don't. Incredibly happy to be standing in this position with a win behind us.
[on missing the fifer] I was so confused at the end, I wasn't aware that Shubman wasn't going to be batting. When Kesh was running and celebrating, I was like what's going on. The personal accolades are trumped by team success. It's so cliche but yeah I bleed for the team and I am more than happy to walk away with a 4-fer.
At the end of the day if you get overawed, you can get yourself in a tricky situation. We just needed to make sure that we put the ball in the right area. There was enough in the wicket with the new ball and with the ball turning as well you got to allow them to make mistakes. The boys as a unit bowled incredibly well."
Simon Harmer in Tests in India:
Innings: 6
Wickets: 18
BBI: 4/21
BBM: 8/51
Average: 16.94
Strike Rate: 37.5
Economy: 2.70
4-Wicket Hauls: 4
Innings: 6
Wickets: 18
BBI: 4/21
BBM: 8/51
Average: 16.94
Strike Rate: 37.5
Economy: 2.70
4-Wicket Hauls: 4
Least Matches Taken to win 10 Tests as a Captain:
11 – Temba Bavuma (South Africa)*
12 – Ben Stokes (England), Lindsay Hassett (Australia)
13 – Ricky Ponting (Australia)
11 – Temba Bavuma (South Africa)*
12 – Ben Stokes (England), Lindsay Hassett (Australia)
13 – Ricky Ponting (Australia)
That's it from our coverage of the series opener between India and South Africa. A magnificent but short lived game as South Africa compete hard and take the honors in the end. Simon Harmer, Temba Bavuma shining with the ball and bat respectively, India falling short by just 30 runs. Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Akshaya Krishna Polya, scorer Bishal Mandal and statistician Aman. Stay tuned for more action from around the world.