Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, celebrated the team’s victory in Cape Town as one of their most significant historic achievements.
Rohit Sharma hailed the team’s historic triumph in Cape Town, praising their performance in light of their prior troubles there and their 0-1 series deficit. India achieved history by defeating the Proteas at Newlands, a powerful bastion where no Asian side had ever triumphed in a Test previously. India took advantage of their bowlers’ superb performance to win by seven wickets in a match that was vital in tying the series.
With this victory, India’s nine journeys to South Africa ended in a drawn Test series, the last of which was in 2010–11. The record for the shortest Test ever played was also set by it, with just 642 balls played over four innings. Rohit Sharma conveyed overwhelming happiness, highlighting the importance of this victory, while drawing a comparison to the unforgettable win at the Gabba in January 2021.
“It’ll be one of our best Test match victories. Having not won here in Cape Town [before], obviously, this puts it right up there with all the victories that we’ve had. It’s very hard to compare the Test matches that you play because every Test match has its own importance and own relevance,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference.
“The Test match that we won at The Gabba as well. The last test match that was lost by Australia in Brisbane was in 1988, I think. Nearly after 23, 24 years [32 years], we won the Test match there. It kind of became like their fortress. They never lose a test match there,” Rohit continued.
“So you can’t really rank the Test matches, but this has to be right up there because we had not won here. That shows how important a venue this is for us to come here and perform. I give a lot of credit to our team to put up a performance like that and win the game,” he added.
Thanks to outstanding performances by Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah with the ball in both innings, South Africa found it challenging to put up a competitive total. Bumrah, leading India’s pace attack, clinched six crucial wickets, dismissing key players like Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs.
The first test posed a significant hurdle for India as South Africa dominated, ultimately winning the match by an innings and 32 runs.
Mukesh Kumar also showcased his skills with the red ball, securing a total of four wickets across both innings. In the pursuit of a modest 79-run target in the second innings, India comfortably sealed the victory, leveling the two-match series against the hosts.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli led India’s batting response in the first innings, contributing 39 and 46 runs, respectively. Despite a few setbacks, including a late collapse, India managed to post a total of 153 runs, securing a crucial first-innings lead.
In South Africa’s second innings, Aiden Markram’s spectacular century stood out, but India’s bowling ace, Bumrah, responded with six wickets, limiting the hosts to 176 runs. The relentless pressure applied by the Indian bowlers brought South Africa’s innings to a close at 176, with a lead of 78 runs.
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