What players say during a match, on the field is no more a secret, thanks to the advanced technology, so when India Test team skipper Virat Kohli was heard instructing Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, ““Jassi, idhar se daal, out karenge isko (Come around the wicket to have a crack at him),” fans were not surprised much but the surprise factor came out when skipper’s instructions eventually paid off and sent South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj back to the pavilion.
Reportedly, there was a crack that had opened up on the surface and Kohli was asking the right-arm pacer to exploit this.
Kohli was heard instructing Bumrah in the final over before stumps on Wednesday (December 29) after Maharaj had started to complain of the lights at the venue to the umpire.
Bumrah exhibited a terrific show in the South African second innings with the red cherry. The 28-year-old pacer picked up 2 wickets in the 11.5 overs that he bowled on Day 4, and conceded only 22 runs.
Bumrah first bowled out South African batsman Rassie van der Dussen with a ball that came in sharply after pitching and the South African batter was beaten totally. Then, came the toe-crushing yorker that knocked off nightwatchman Maharaj’s stumps.
Impressed Vikram Rathour
In the press conference after the day's play, India batting coach Vikram Rathour admitted that he was impressed with Bumrah’s performance.
"That's the quality of the bowler, he really set him up well," Rathour said in a reference to the line that Bumrah bowled to South African batters.
"That's what you expect from somebody like him. But all of us bowled really well. They were bowling really good lines."
The South African team, in the second innings, lost 4 wickets in 40.5 overs with 94 runs on the board. Opener Aiden Markram went back in the second over.
Elgar leading from the front
Mohammed Siraj then picked up the wicket of Keegan Petersen. South African skipper Dean Elgar was the only batter who looked to be in form. The southpaw scored 52 runs (not out).
Earlier in the day, the Indian lineup was bowled out for a total of 174. Indian wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant was the top scorer for the Virat Kohli-led side and scored a run-a-ball 34.
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada and left-arm seamer Marco Jansen picked up 4 wickets each to put constant pressure on the opponent batters.
Incidentally, when Bumrah returned to bowl after an injury on Day 3, Kohli was heard saying, “The Rock has comeback”.
