South Africa v India 2023/24

‘What kind of sorcery is this?’ – India lose 6 wickets for 0 runs in 11 balls

by Wisden Staff January 3, 2024 - 2:37pm 2 minute read

India lost six wickets for zero runs in the span of 10 balls to spark a dramatic collapse in the second innings of the Newlands Test at Cape Town.

India became the first team in the history of Test cricket to lose six wickets without scoring a single run when they collapsed from 153-4 to 153 all out in the space of ten deliveries. The visitors were 111-4 at the tea break and had taken a 56-run lead after dismissing the Proteas for 55 in the first session.

The duo of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli combined to score 42 in 9.1 overs before the former was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi for a 33-ball eight. What followed was unprecedented: The last five batters scored zero runs and fell like a pack of cards as Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada combined to take six wickets for no further runs. India ended with a 98-run lead.

The pattern of the last six wickets in the end were: W, 0, W, 0, W, 0, W, 0, W, W.

It left fans and viewers on X (formerly Twitter) in shock and awe as they analysed the quick change in the fortunes of the Indian team.

#TeamIndia has taken on the sole mantle of saving Test cricket from extinction by not allowing to drag on. #INDvSA #perspective

— Anindya Dutta 🇮🇳 (@Cric_Writer) January 3, 2024

20 wickets in under 60 overs and we are still moaning about turners! I am a fan of both just to be sure where batting is a challenge, but just can't accept that one is better than the other. India should pick up atleast 5 before the lead is wiped out! #INDvsSA

— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) January 3, 2024

What if 20 wickets fell on day 1 in India 🤔#INDvsSA

— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) January 3, 2024

these flat tracks are really not good for test cricket. south africa won the toss, batted, and the openers are still in with less than an hour to go for stumps#SAvIND

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 3, 2024

High drama at Cape Town. India collapse from potentially strong position into vulnerability. Who would have thought SA would fight back so brilliantly after being bundled out for 55? 20 wickets in the day already. India lost 6 for 0 runs! Dare to pick a winner at this stage?

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 3, 2024

Siraj doesn't even have the best 6-for of the day. Indian batters have stolen the show.

— Manya (@CSKian716) January 3, 2024

Score was 153/4. I started making maggi. Score is 153/7 and Maggi is still not ready.

What kind of sorcery is this, NGIDI? 🥲

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) January 3, 2024