Shami & Bumrah take RSA on bumpy safari

India began the year by defending Sydney with their lives and then breaching Fortress Gabba. On the final day of Test cricket in the year, they finished conquering Centurion. The target of 305 on a track with a lot of uneven bounce was always out of question for a South African unit that is low on quality and the script unfolded as per the narrative set.

The home team folded for 191 in 68 overs to give India a 1-0 lead in threematch series.

Such was the command of Indian pacers that they even took rain out of equation despite one full day being lost.

It was pity to see South Africa, that boasted of some great names of the yore, couldn’t even post 200 runs in the both the innings with skipper Dean Elgar’s 77 off 156 balls not exactly being a saving grace.

For India, the four pacers took 18 wickets between them and Ravichandran Ashwin wrapped up the South African tail just after the lunch session to complete formality.

Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur were the perfect supporting cast in one of the better and comfortable overseas wins for Virat Kohli’s men.

Having gauged the variable bounce of the track, skipper Elgar knew that survival isn’t an option and he needed to counter attack right at the onset.

At the start of the year, India breached Gabba, they end the year by breaching yet another fortress.

It’s a super special year for Team India: KL The Test vice-captain summed up 2021 for Indian cricket as a ‘super special year’ due to stunning overseas wins in Australia, England and now South Africa. “It’s a super special year for Team India. The kind of achievements we have gotten in this year has been truly special. It will go down as one of the greatest years in Indian cricket history, especially Test cricket.

We have worked really, really hard as a team for the last few years and have truly started to see results and be really happy.”

Shami among the best 3 seamers in the world: Virat

“Absolutely world class talent (Shami). For me he’s in the best three seamers in the world at the moment. His strong wrist, his seam position and his ability to hit a length consistently, Virat said.”

4 Tests wins outside Asia

2021 is the second time India have had won four Tests outside Asia in a calendar year (Brisbane, Lord’s, Oval, Centurion). Only Pakistan (five) have more away Test wins than India in 2021.