IND vs SA: Watch - Virat Kohli's Magical Bail Switch Earns India Crucial Wicket In Centurion

Virat Kohli made a comeback to the Indian Test team with a gutsy 38 before Kagiso Rabada accounted for his wicket. The former Indian skipper was dismissed fishing outside the off stump, a mode of dismissal that he has often gotten out to.

India were bowled out for 245 in the first innings after KL Rahul scored his eighth Test ton. He scored 101 off 137 deliveries after India were overnight 208/8. Rahul almost played a lone hand with the lower order stitching two crucial partnerships and taking India past 200.

By the way, the pitch behaved early on, 245 looked like a challenging target. South Africa lost the wicket of Aiden Markram early to give India the hope that the wicket might produce the help to get the batters out cheaply. Dean Elgar and Tony de Zorzi (28 off 62) added a 93-run stand to keep the hosts in the hunt to chase down the Indian score of 245.

Also Read: Neither Virat Kohli, Nor Rohit Sharma!! Players Who Can Win the T20I Cricketer Of The Year Award

With the Indian bowlers struggling to make a breakthrough, it required Virat Kohli to work his magic around that yielded India the crucial breakthrough. In between overs, Kohli switched the bails around from the end where Zorzi was about to face the next over. Just two balls after Kohli changed the bails, Jasprit Bumrah managed to dismiss the southpaw getting him knicked off to the slip cordon. Yashasvi Jaiswal took a safe catch to send Zorzi back to the pavilion.

Watch – Virat Kohli Works His Magic By Switching The Bails

pic.twitter.com/Bp5zxIriha

— Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (@Hanji_CricDekho) December 27, 2023

https://twitter.com/Kohli_Spy/status/1739984927888904378?t=YDFUf-YjgyiLnFy1pXaA6w&s=19

BIG WICKET!#JaspritBumrah breaks a stubborn 93-run stand to get the prized wicket of #TonyDeZorzi.
A much-needed wicket for #TeamIndia.

Tune in to #SAvIND 1st Test
LIVE NOW | Star Sports Network#Cricket pic.twitter.com/IY3LVS80Ov

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 27, 2023

Soon after India took the wicket of Zorzi, Bumrah struck again to dismiss Keegan Petersen as South Africa lost two wickets in quick succession allowing India to get back into the game.

Earlier in the day, India resumed their innings on 208/8 adding 37 more runs. India were finally bowled out for 245 soon after KL Rahul scored his eighth Test ton.

Talking about the Test match, it is the first of the two-match Test series with India looking to win their maiden Test series on South African soil. None of the previous Indian captains have been able to win a Test series in this part of the World. Rohit Sharma has the chance now to change the script if he manages to lead his team to a series victory.

The Test series against South Africa kickstarts India’s WTC 2023-25 cycle. India reached the finals of the last two World Test Championships. They lost to New Zealand in the WTC final 2021 and then to Australia in the WTC final 2023. India are the number one ranked Test side heading into this series while South Africa are placed fourth. The Men in Blue are also topping the WTC 2023 points table.

India were whitewashed in the ODI series when they toured South Africa last time in 2021-22. They lost the Test series 2-1 as well. After winning the Centurion Test where KL Rahul scored a ton, India lost their next two games.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Watch – Virat Kohli Shakes His Leg In Centurion Test