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Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has confidently expressed his belief that India is poised to win the second Test against South Africa, citing the hosts' batting lineup as not being a significant threat to Rohit Sharma's team. In an eventful first day of the Test at Newlands, Cape Town, a remarkable total of 23 wickets tumbled, underscoring the intensity of the contest between the two teams on January 3.
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South Africa, having opted to bat first, suffered a major setback as they were skittled out for a mere 55 runs. This score marked their lowest since returning to Test cricket and ranks as the eighth-lowest in their cricketing history. Indian bowler Mohammed Siraj played a pivotal role in the Proteas' downfall, recording an impressive career-best figure of 6-15.
In response, India's innings commenced on a promising note with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill laying a solid groundwork, scoring 39 and 36 runs respectively. Virat Kohli also made a significant contribution with a fluent 46. However, the Indian batting lineup experienced a dramatic collapse, plummeting from 153/4 to 153 all out without adding a single run. This sudden decline was largely due to Lungi Ngidi's exceptional bowling, as he claimed three wickets in one over, making the most of the extra bounce offered by the pitch.
By the close of play on the first day, South Africa had initiated their second innings, standing at 62 for three and trailing India by 36 runs. Batsmen Aiden Markram and David Bedingham remained unbeaten, aiming to establish a challenging target for India on day two.
Despite the day's unpredictable turn of events, Gavaskar remains optimistic about India's chances. Speaking on Star Sports, the Indian cricket icon opined that the visitors still hold a strong position in the match. He expressed skepticism about the South African batting lineup's ability to score substantially, doubting their capability to post individual scores in the range of 150-200 runs.
"Three wickets have already fallen. India are still in the lead. So I don't think this match can go out of India's grasp. Yes, it might not be an innings victory," said Gavaskar
"They (India) might have to bat a little but I don't think South Africa have batters who can score 150-200 runs and trouble the Indian team a little," he added.
Gavaskar's insights reflect his confidence in the Indian team's superiority and their likelihood of clinching a victory in the ongoing Test.
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