(Info4now, December 30, 2021)- Virat Kohli still to score a fair amount of runs, but his leadership remains intact as India beat South Africa by 113 runs in the IND vs SA 1st Test. Even getting all out for just 174 in the second innings, India set a huge target of 305 for the last innings. And an almost unchaseable score of 305 always looked tough for an inexperienced South Africa side. 

If Virat Kohli needs to break his last frontier, he also needs a week opposition. South Africa were always tentative save some of the flashes like Ngidi’s bowling. They tried to be positive with the batting. It didn’t work, but looked more committed than England in the Ashes 2021/22. 

Virat Kohli chose to bat as there were chances of deterioration on the turf. The pitch was not so lively on Day 1. But the South African pacers continued to bowl wide outside off stump. They were neither disciplined to bowl in line nor courageous enough to bowl much fuller. A lot of deliveries were bowled on the pad also and were delicately punched down square leg by the opening stars of India. 

Mayank Agarwal is very faithful in that slot with K.L.Rahul and was courageous enough to take on debutant Marco Jansen immediately. Rahul is the experienced campaigner and both of them set the tone of the game. Day 2 got washed away. On Day 3, South Africa make a comeback and get next seven wickets in just 55. But a total of 327 in the first innings was enough for India. An experienced and exceptionally skilled Shami just hurried into the defence of an inexperienced batting line-up. 

With 130 ahead in the first innings, India fail to score a lot of runs in the second. But that didn’t match with any miscalculation on such a wicket. Anything above 100 was enough for Team India. Getting all out early in the second innings was nothing short of a decision. At the stumps of Day 4, India picked up four wickets of the host and expected an ever longed victory in Centurion on Day 5.