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After losing the ODI and the T20I series, India were looking to get back to winning ways in the four-match Test series. It was no surprise when the Mohali curator prepared a spin-conducive track, considering that India would go into the first Test with three spinners.
The fact that the Test match ended in three days is clear proof of the impact that the bowlers, especially spinners, had on the outcome of the match. After India finished Day Two on 125/2 with captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease, it seemed like India were set for a big total in the second innings.
However, Kohli's departure brought about an Indian batting collpase during which India lost eight wickets for just 39 runs. After Kohli and Pujara, only wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha made a score in double digits as the rest of the batsmen fell to South African spinners Imran Tahir and Simon Harmer.
Being set a target of 218 runs, South African batsmen were not able to tackle the Indian spin bowling as they folded for a measly 109 runs, losing the first Test by 108 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja, making a comeback into the Test squad, was named the man of the match for his eight-wicket haul in the Test match. In the first innings, Jadeja picked up 3/55 while in the second innings he got even better and picked up 5/21.
Indian captain Virat Kohli was delighted to win his first home Test match as Indian Test captain and was very happy with the team spirit. Kohli was pleased with Jadeja's effort and felt that he would be a vital cog in the Indian lineup.
“First Test as captain at home was a special occasion for me, it is a young team, building a strong team together. Seeing the way things have gone in the past month and half, the way we played here, a lot of credit has to go to the team. We thought if we are finding it difficult on this wicket, it is going to be difficult for them,” Kohli said in the presentation ceremony.
Hashim Amla, the South African captain, felt that the Proteas had a fair chance to chase down the target until they lost quick wickets. He gave credit to the Indian bowlers for bowling the Proteas out to win convincingly.
“200 was a chaseable total, probably 150 would have been more realistic, 150-160 would have been a fair challenge on a deteriorating wicket. There were some soft dismissals, we were in the game till we lost four or five and put pressure on the lower guys, Stiaan showed you could gets runs if you hung in there,” Amla said.
Here is how the world reacted to India's win over South Africa:
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra:
Cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar:
Former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli:
Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien:
Cricker commenatator Harsha Bhogle:
Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman:
Former Sri Lanka cricketer-turned-commentator Russel Arnold:
Former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher:
Former South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs:
Former Australian bowler Jason Gillespie:
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