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Virat Kohli's team packed off South Africa by a margin of 113 runs in the first Test match and earned their first victory in the historic venue at Centurion. Despite India grabbing everyone's eyeballs for their top-notch all-round show, there was something that didn't impress the legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar as he was commentating in the same match.
While commentating on the Centurion Test, the 72-year old expressed his views on an incident during the match when Indian quick Mohammed Siraj hit the South African vice-captain Temba Bavuma with the ball, in an attempt to run him out. The attempt was labelled needless by Gavaskar, as he mentioned that Bavuma didn’t even attempt for a run.
The former Indian skipper while putting forth his voice on the incident said, “There was no attempt to take the run. You are a little bit aggressive; you've gotten a bit carried away. But if there was an attempt to run, it would have been understandable. He's there. He didn't take the run. There was no need, absolutely no need for that. Siraj should be spoken to”.
The Indian pacer went up to the Proteas batter after hitting him and checked on him. Gavaskar further added that at the end of the day, Bavuma was gracious when he replied with a thumbs up to Siraj.
11 months after India breached Australia's fortress at the Gabba, the Asian giants went on to breach South Africa's fortress in Centurion, registering their first-ever Test victory there. On the match front, the Indian pace attack restricted South Africa on the fourth innings total of 191 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Siraj contributed with two wickets in the second batting innings of South Africa, after picking up one wicket in the first. Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami finished with the figures of 5/44 and 3/63 in both innings, while Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets in the fourth innings, after taking two in the second innings. At the same time, Shardul Thakur took two wickets in the first innings, while Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed two batters during South Africa’s chase.
This is also only India's 4th victory in 22 Tests in South Africa dating back from 1992. It's only the 2nd time India have taken lead in a Test series in South Africa after a Rahul Dravid-led side went 1-0 up only to lose a 3-Test series 1-2 in 2006-07.
