South Africa vs India, 1st Test: Stats That Matter

We now have the outcome of South Africa vs India, 1st Test and in what was to be Virat Kohli’s first real overseas challenge in the last couple of years, they have a 72-run defeat against South Africa which means that they will be trying to catch-up to their opposition throughout this series.

South Africa vs India is indeed of the most anticipated series of 2018 which started on a bright note as both teams produced an exciting first Test. Although It was a low-scoring game, both teams fancied their chances. The hosts were reduced to 12/3 on the very first day but a comeback led by AB de Villiers changed the course of the innings which help South Africa post 286. In response, Indian batsmen especially the top order couldn’t stand up and they couldn’t capitalize with the bat as they were 7 down below 100 runs in the first innings.

However, with a target of 208 runs to get in the fourth innings after the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit bowlers managed to pull India back with their bowling prowess, Virat Kohli & Co. had a definite chance. But once again, the top-order failed and the visitors were bowled out for 135 as lost by 72 runs.

It was Vernon Philander (15.4-42-6) who turned out to be the most destructive ammunition in South Africa’s bowling arsenal. While he took three wickets in the first innings after running through the Indian middle order on day five, his 9-fer literally laid the path for South Africa notching up a 1-0 lead in this 3-match Test series.

While the reasons behind India once again going downhill overseas, which has given them the tag of poor ‘travellers’, were in many, the biggest cause of concern will be team India’s ability to at least save the wicket and understand the seam attack from the Proteas’ bowlers.

That said, there were still some records being broken by Indian players during the South Africa vs India, 1st Test and same can be said for the hosts.

Here are some statistical highlights from South Africa vs India, 1st Test

• No Indian keeper has affected more dismissals than Wriddhiman Saha (10) in a Test. MS Dhoni held the previous record with nine such dismissals against Australia at the MCG in 2014.

• South Africa vs India, 1st Test was the first instance when four Indian fast bowlers picked up at least one wicket each in both innings of a Test. This was also the first time that four Indian pacers picked up a minimum of 3 wickets in the same Test.

• South Africa’s 130-run total in the second innings is their second-lowest tally against India at home, the lowest being 84 in 2006.

• Jasprit Bumrah is now the only fifth bowler to dismiss de Villiers in both innings of a Test, joining the likes of Stuart Broad, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Amit Mishra.

• AB de Villiers has gotten out twice to the same bowler in a Test 17 times which is the most for any Proteas batsman, Mark Boucher’s 16 being the second on this list.

• The difference between Cheteshwar Pujara’s away (37.22) and home (62.97) Test averages is the sixth-worst in the format’s history among all batsman having at least 1000 runs.

• This was the sixth time that India lost seven wickets for under 100 runs in both the innings of the same Test.

• Since January 2011 India has lost 16 out of 23 Tests, winning just one and drawing 6 in Tests outside Asia (excluding WI).

• Vernon Philander’s Test bowling average of 16.54 against India is his best against any Test playing nation.

As for the South Africa vs India, 1st Test, it was indeed a batting failure for the visitors who scummed to outside-the-off-stumps deliveries and the swing through which Proteas exploited the conditions and took the first lead in India’s dream of winning their first Test series in South Africa.