Circumstances seemed ideal to re-write the script of that 2018 Johannesburg Test, which, according to Virat Kohli, is the cornerstone for India’s turnaround in their performance overseas.
Four years ago, South Africa, then a far stronger team, were well placed at 117/1 in pursuit of 241 on a difficult wicket. But Hashim Amla’s dismissal led to a dramatic collapse as India went on to win the Test by 63 runs, with Dean Elgar stranded on 86.
On this occasion, the Proteas’ target — 240 — to win the second Test at the Wanderers was almost the same. And Elgar was again the man having to shoulder the responsibility of taking his team home on a challenging pitch.
But this time, the left-hander penned a different story. He crafted a superb unbeaten 96 that helped South Africa break their Johannesburg jinx versus India and win the second Test by seven wickets on a rain-marred penultimate day. They thus levelled the series 1-1 with the decider beginning from January 11 at Newlands in Cape Town.
Rahul erred?
Chasing 240 in the fourth innings can be tricky. On a Wanderers wicket where one ball suddenly jumped up and the other kept low, chasing any total above 200 gets tougher. The wicket was under covers for quite some time as persistent rain wiped out the first two sessions on Thursday. India’s chances were very much alive. Despite having eight wickets in hand, South Africa still had to get 122 more to win.
The Indians knew they had to dismiss Elgar early. But stand-in captain KL Rahul perhaps erred by not letting Mohammed Shami begin the proceedings with Jasprit Bumrah. Instead, Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a few overs after play resumed almost six hours after the scheduled start.
Conditions demanded two quicks to operate from both ends, but India missed a trick there.
Then Shardul Thakur dropped Temba Bavuma (23 not out) on nought off his own bowling soon after Shami removed Rassie van der Dussen. Bavuma’s dismissal could well have created more pressure on the home team who still needed another 60 or so for victory.
Captain’s knock
All said and done, kudos to Elgar for his brilliant effort in his 309-minute stay at the crease. The South Africa skipper may not have the elegance and flamboyance of some of his predecessors, but his ability to grind it out in spite of taking blows almost all over the body stood out.
Knowing well that his dismissal could mean the end of South Africa’s hopes in the series, he soaked up all the pressure and banked on his steely resolve to hand India their first-ever Test defeat in Johannesburg.
