IND vs SA: Watch - Jasprit Bumrah Anchors India's Comeback As He Cleans Up Keegan Petersen

Team India finished the first innings of the first Test on Day 2 at 245 runs. Now, the onus is on the Indian pace attack including Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj, to restrict the South African team and anchor India’s comeback. South Africa finished their first innings at 49/1 at Lunch on Day 1.

South African captain Dean Elgar and Tony de Zorzi were taking their team out of trouble after losing Aiden Makram. However, Jasprit Bumrah led India‘s comeback after Lunch and first removed de Zorzi for 28 runs whereas cleaned up Keegan Petersen for 2 runs.

Keegan Petersen who had come at the crease after the fall of Tony de Zorzi chopped one onto the stumps while trying to play a fourth stump ball. Petersen was one of the major architects of South Africa’s brilliant comeback in the 2021-22 Test series as he scored 276 runs from three matches and was the highest run scorer of the series.

Watch – Jasprit Bumrah cleans up Keegan Petersen

https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1739990132860834055?t=0mRJz_XUYAODJ7qRfFUYPQ&s=19

The visitors will now want to remove Dean Elgar as soon as possible as he is looking dangerous and has already completed his half-century. Elgar has been one of the major performers of the South African team for the past few years.

The Indian cricket team will want to restrict the South African side as quickly as possible so that they can make a comeback in the match.

Day 2 of the first Test match was made special by Indian batsman KL Rahul as he completed a century on his return to Test cricket. Rahul had been out of form from the start of this year, though, he has had a blast from the past few months and has scored runs in every format.

KL Rahul’s hundred ensured that the Indian team reached 245 runs in the first innings as it didn’t look possible at one point. India was 121/6 on Day 1, however, Rahul showed great composure and patience and made necessary partnerships with Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj.

The last time when India played in Centurion they had emerged victorious but missed the chance of winning the Test series. India lost the last two Test series against the Proteas by a margin of 2-1 and now will want to change the deficit in 2023.

India has been coming to South Africa since 1992 but have won just three Tests from the past four tours. The Indian team now has one of the best pace attacks in the world which has scripted some of its famous overseas wins.

The inexperienced South African batting line is also a major reason why India has the best chance to win their maiden Test series on the South African lands. Apart from Dean Elgar, South Africa only have Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram as experienced players in the side. Bavuma’s form is also a major headache for South Africa as he performed very poorly in the 2023 ODI World Cup.