In a scarcely believable, second dramatic collapse of the day, India lost their last six wickets for no runs as they squandered a commanding position on day one of the Newlands SA vs IND Test in Cape Town today (January 3).

Lungi Ngidi takes three in one over

After getting themselves into a comfortable position at 153-4, India lost the plot in a period of madness. KL Rahul was the first one to go, edging an attempted upper cut off Lungi Ngidi to hand him his first wicket of the match in the 34th over.

Ravindra Jadeja followed two balls later as he shouldered a short ball to gully. Virat Kohli stood at the non-striker’s end and watched the collapse unfold, as Ngidi got his third in the over, dismissing Jasprit Bumrah, batting at No.8 for the first time in his Test career, for a two-ball duck.

Kagiso Rabada finishes things off

Having gone from 153-4 to 153-7, Kohli had no choice but to try and go on the offensive. The first ball of the next over by Kagiso Rabada was played and missed as he attempted a lofted drive. On the second, Kohli joined the procession as he edged a good length ball to second slip, all but ending India’s chances of putting on a big lead.

Absolute carnage in Cape Town 🤯🤯🤯

India lose the final six wickets of their innings in the space of 11 balls for zero runs. Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada combining for an epic two over burst.

South Africa will begin their second innings on Day One.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/rYzN1nV7Nl

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 3, 2024

Two balls later, it was Mohammed Siraj‘s turn to go. In a typical mix-up between tailenders while running between the wickets, Siraj was left stranded in the middle of the pitch after Prasidh Krishna refused to join him in the run. Nandre Burger fielding at mid-on showed presence of mind as he ran towards the stumps and under-armed it from close range.

Krishna then departed off the very next ball as he edged one to Aiden Markram at second slip, much like Kohli did.

A world-record collapse

India became the first team to lose six wickets without scoring a run in Tests. Their scorecard bore a strange look numbers two, three, and four each registered scores between 35-50, while six out of the remaining eight registered ducks, making it the joint-highest number of ducks scored in a Test innings.

India are the first team to lose 6 wickets without scoring a run in a Test innings.

— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) January 3, 2024

Mukesh Kumar, the lone man standing at the end, remained unbeaten at zero without facing a ball as India ended their first innings with a lead of 98 after having bundled them out for 55 in the morning session.

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