Hosts South Africa, under pressure after losing the first Test of the series, fought back to claim an emphatic win over India, sealing the series 2-1, which led to plenty of applause from the cricket community.
For many, the Proteas team wasn’t expected to be serious challengers when they took on the mighty India side for a three-match Test series at home. An under-fire squad was weakened further after Anrich Nortje was ruled out ahead of the series due to injury, and Quinton de Kock’s sudden Test retirement following India’s win at Centurion. However, what followed was a stunning comeback, with the South Africa side playing out of their skins to win the next two matches, dominating with both bat and ball as they clinched the series.
India, who’ve defeated Australia twice Down Under since the start of 2018, and lead the series against England 2-1, had reached the World Test Championship final last year. Up against a South Africa team without many experienced players, Virat Kohli’s side were the favourites to complete their maiden series win in the country, but the wait continues, with South Africa being the only Test-playing country where India have not yet won a Test series.
Many took to Twitter to applaud the efforts of Dean Elgar’s side after a memorable win.
Coming back from 1 down to win 2 test matches is great effort by South Africa..Tht too after India wining the Toss in both the matches..well done #sa.. for India regroup and rephrase..
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) January 14, 2022
Amazing fight boys. Great Test series. Well done to both teams for pulling us all in👏
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 14, 2022
That is proper!!!!
Beating the top ranked side in the world so comprehensively
Our test team deserves more respect than they are given
Well done boys 🇿🇦#ProteaFire
— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) January 14, 2022
Sensational series win for South Africa.
Comfortably beaten in the opener, one of their best players retires out of the blue mid-series and then a reasonably inexperienced side take down two 200-plus chases against a World No. 1 side who’ve recently won in Aus and Eng.
— Yas Rana (@Yas_Wisden) January 14, 2022
Great series win. Well done @OfficialCSA 🇿🇦🔥
— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) January 14, 2022
That’s a super series win for South Africa over India, who won in Australia a year ago, and are currently 2-1 up in their long-interrupted series in England.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) January 14, 2022
Others, however, were left disappointed at how India tapered off towards the end, which has left them with plenty to think about.
I thought this was our best chance to create a history! Considering our team and theirs. Well played South Africa. Marco Janson and Keegan Peterson are future South African stars.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 14, 2022
Batting is misfiring. For a while. Collapses are happening too often. But India will still play the 5-batter combo…on seamer-friendly pitches. Even the absence of Rohit and Virat won’t make India deviate from this tactic. Too rigid?
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 14, 2022
Got to think this was India’s best chance of winning a series in South Africa. Won all three tosses. Had a potent bowling attack & vastly more experienced batting. Yes, some luck hasn’t gone their way, but on paper India were good enough to overcome some bad luck. #INDvSA
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) January 14, 2022
Lots to ponder over for India. There will be changes in the batting order but India have to find a way to get their balance right while playing overseas. The bowling was good most days but it was always under pressure because there were no runs to bowl with.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 14, 2022
