India's chase of 124 runs turned into a dramatic collapse as they lost five crucial wickets before reaching 80 runs on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The visitors now face an uphill battle with star batter Virat Kohli remaining their primary hope.
Early Wickets Shatter Indian Chase
The Indian innings began disastrously as they lost both openers within the first five overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for just 5 runs when he edged Kagiso Rabada to Aiden Markram at second slip. The dismissal came as a massive blow to India's confidence early in the chase.
Captain Rohit Sharma followed shortly after, scoring just 0 runs before nicking Nandre Burger to Kyle Verreynne behind the stumps. The double strike left India reeling at 13/2 and gave South Africa immediate control of the match.
Middle Order Collapse Deepens Crisis
Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer attempted to stabilize the innings with a brief partnership, but their resistance was short-lived. Gill departed after making 26 runs, while Iyer contributed only 6 runs before returning to the pavilion.
The situation worsened when KL Rahul, who had scored a magnificent century in the first innings, fell for just 4 runs. The wicketkeeper-batter edged Marco Jansen to gully where Tony de Zorzi took a comfortable catch, leaving India in deep trouble at 72/5.
Kohli Stands Firm Amidst the Carnage
Virat Kohli emerged as India's lone warrior, displaying remarkable composure and technique against South Africa's relentless pace attack. The experienced batter remained not out on 30 runs at the lunch break, having faced 50 deliveries and hit 4 boundaries.
Kohli found support in Ravichandran Ashwin, who was batting on 1 run when the teams went for lunch. The partnership between these two experienced players now holds the key to India's chances of achieving the modest target.
South African Bowlers Dominate Session
The South African pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, and Marco Jansen exploited the bowling conditions perfectly. Rabada was particularly impressive, claiming two important wickets while maintaining consistent pressure on the Indian batters.
Nandre Burger continued his impressive debut Test performance, adding another wicket to his tally. The left-arm pacer's disciplined line and length made scoring difficult for the Indian batters throughout the session.
At the lunch break on Day 3, India's score stood at 79/5, still needing 45 more runs to win with only five wickets remaining. The match hangs in perfect balance, with South Africa needing just five wickets while India requires 45 runs.
The post-lunch session promises high drama as both teams understand the importance of early breakthroughs or partnerships. Kohli's wicket will be crucial for South Africa, while India will hope their star batter can guide the tailenders to victory.
