India fell from 153-4 to 153 all out, losing their last six wickets without adding a single run to the total – a Test first. After having bowled out the hosts for 55 before lunch on the first day, India came out to bat with positive intent and were looking set for a match-defining lead mid-way through the evening session when they suffered an unprecedented collapse.

Lungi Ngidi started proceedings with a three-wicket over that included the dismissals of KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah. Virat Kohli, who was the lone man standing at the other end, fell on the second ball of the next over, bowled by Kagiso Rabada, for a well-made 46. The last two pairs combined to last three deliveries as Mohammed Siraj was run out and Prasidh Krishna was caught at slip to end India’s innings at 153.

Ravi Shastri, who was on air during the collapse and the subsequent changeover, hilariously quipped, “If someone went around the corner for a dump and has come back, India has been bowled out for 153,” to describe the swiftness of what had happened. Clips of the moment quickly went viral on social media.

Is this the greatest bit of commentary of all time? #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/sUGIAzzBnZ

— Santokie (@Santokie89) January 3, 2024

India became the first team to lose six wickets without adding a run in the history of Test cricket, with the entire lower order crumbling in the space of 11 deliveries.

Ngidi, who was making a comeback from injury, finished with figures of 3-30, while Rabada and Nandre Burger finished with 3-38 and 3-42 respectively.

Earlier in the day, South Africa had suffered a dramatic collapse of their own, losing all ten wickets inside 23.2 overs as Mohammed Siraj ran through their batting, picking the second quickest six-for by an Indian bowler in Test history.