Mohammed Siraj's searing six-fer in the first session of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town highlighted the strength of India's fast bowling which saw hosts bundling out for a paltry 55. Alongside Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar each claimed two wickets, further solidifying India's reputation as one of the world's premier pace bowling teams. In an uninterrupted spell of nine overs, Siraj achieved his best figures of 6/15, as South African batters struggled to adapt to the unpredictable bounce and both inward and outward movement he managed to generate from the pitch.
Meanwhile, batting great and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar cited the legendary Kapil Dev's example while lavishing praise on Siraj. Gavaskar remarked on how Kapil Dev has significantly influenced India's prowess in fast bowling.
"All thanks to Kapil Dev. He has shown that in India you don't necessarily have to be a spin bowler. Even in Indian pitches one can take wicket. Of course when you go to wickets like South Africa, England Australia, New Zealand, you will get lot more assistance as a new ball bowler. Since then India have produced a range of fast bowlers," Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
"But particularly in the last 10-12 years, thanks to the IPL, there are a lot of fast bowlers who have come to the fore. Now India have a bench strength of fast bowlers which probably is going to be the envy of the cricket world. There are left-handers, right-handers, there is so much of talent available if any of these guys want to take a break. You saw when Jasprit Bumrah was not present, how Indian bowlers came in and performed. particularly Mohammed Shami. I think this will be a tribute to Kapil Dev. I also think for the first time in many, many years India will win a match on his birthday on January 6," Gavaskar added.
On a muggy Wednesday morning, the South African batters were starkly reminded of cricket's unpredictable nature, as Siraj delivered a devastating blow to their batting line-up with an exceptional display of pace, swing, and seam movement. The Proteas' innings concluded swiftly in just 23.2 overs.
Only David Bedingham (12) and Kyle Verreynne (15) managed to reach double figures, leaving the South African fans in the stands in a state of shocked silence.
Jasprit Bumrah, with figures of 2/25 in 8 overs, maintained the pressure from the other end, as Indian captain Rohit Sharma fulfilled his promise to make Dean Elgar's final Test a challenging one.
Mukesh Kumar, with 2 wickets for no runs, efficiently wrapped up the tail-end of the innings, showcasing his superiority over Shardul Thakur in these conditions.
After a heavy defeat at the Centurion where they conceded over 400 runs, even the most optimistic Indian supporters wouldn't have expected such a formidable comeback from their bowlers.
Siraj focused on fuller lengths between 4-6 metres, leveraging the bounce to make most balls swing back in.
Meanwhile, from the other end, Bumrah targeted the back of length area, as Rohit implemented an entirely attacking field strategy, though of a different nature.
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