India lost to South Africa inside three days at Centurion, going 1-0 down in the two-Test series and ensuring that their search for a first Test series-win in South Africa will go on.

The Proteas racked up a 164-run lead on the third day, building on Dean Elgar’s 185 with Marco Jansen’s unbeaten 84. Temba Bavuma didn’t bat after he sustained a hamstring injury on the first day of the Test. When India came back out to bat again in the afternoon session, wickets quickly feel which left them struggling to force South Africa to bat again.

Kagiso Rabada dismissed Rohit Sharma for a duck in the third over of the innings and Yashasvi Jaiswal was also quickly sent back. India slipped to 96-6 after Test debutant Nandre Burger took two wickets in two balls, and the tail were left battling to survive the day. Virat Kohli mounted a lone stand to score the majority of India’s runs, before he became the last wicket to fall, mistiming a slog off Jansen to giving a catch to Rabada.

The result means that India cannot win the series, which concludes at Cape Town next week. India have never won a Test series in South Africa and have lost six out of their last eight Tests in the country. The losing margin of an innings and 32 runs is also their largest-ever defeat in South Africa, and only the second time they’ve lost by an innings. It also means Sri Lanka remain the only Asian side to have won a Test series in South Africa, after they won a two-Test series in 2019.

Fantastic – and huge – win for South Africa to ensure that they will hold on to their record of never being beaten by India in a series at home.

The last time they beat India by an innings was 13 years ago, on this ground. On to Cape Town. #SAvIND #cricket

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) December 28, 2023

Between 2014 and this match, India have lost only one Test without taking 10 wickets: Lord’s 2018.

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) December 28, 2023

The dream to win a Test series in South Africa remains a dream. 💔 pic.twitter.com/FDzxXtPvxp

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 28, 2023

Winning by an inns inside 3 days with weather interruptions doesn’t happen more often. Clinical this from the proteas. Clearly ahead in both batting and bowling departments. #INDvsSA

— Prasanna (@prasannalara) December 28, 2023

Some online commentators also focussed on Kohli to praise his fighting 76 in a losing cause, as well as highlight the limited Test cricket South Africa host.

Kohli misses out on a well deserved ton here, just like he was in the 1st inns of Cape Town test in the last tour. Ran out of partners while looking sublime. And this innings has been better than that one. In the last 15 years that I have watched India play in SA, only Sachin has…

— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) December 28, 2023

In the wake of this comprehensive defeat & with South Africa playing fewer & fewer Tests with every passing year, you can’t help but wonder if India will ever win that elusive Test series in South Africa #SAvInd

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 28, 2023

The second and final Test of the series will begin on January 3 in Cape Town.

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