Thursday, 4 January, is recorded as a historical day in the saga of test cricket. The second test match of the Gandhi-Mandela series was played between India and South Africa was lasted only for 107 overs. Usually, a test match lasts only for 5 days, but this test match survives only for 5 sessions i.e. less than 2 days. India beat South Africa by 7 wickets and became the first Indian side to win a test match at Newlands, Capetown.

South Africa captain Dean Elgar won the toss and decided to bat first but, the Indian pace battery proved the decision of Elgar wrong. Mo. Siraj bags a six-for in the first inning which restricted the proteas to only 55 runs. In reply, India scored 153 and took a feasible lead of 98 runs. On day one a record of 23 wickets were taken by the bowler.

In the first session of the series decider at Newlands, South Africa’s Aiden Markram hit a brilliant century for the Proteas in the second inning. while premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah claimed a match-changing six-wicket haul for India. Rohit Sharma and company defeated the Proteas by 7 wickets at Newlands after they chased down the 79-run target with the loss of only 3 wickets. In the final Test of Dean Elgar’s career, India achieved its first-ever victory in Cape Town. India leveled the series 1-1 on Thursday by winning the shortest-ever Test match.

Mo. Siraj was awarded the Man of the Match and the farewell boy Dean Elgar along with Jasprit Bumrah was awarded Player of the Series.

In the press conference, India captain Rohit Sharma said, “We don’t mind playing on surfaces similar to the one in Cape Town, where the fastest-ever test result was attained. In light of the events at Newlands, he wishes for the people who criticize Indian pitches to simply shut up.”

“Everyone witnessed the events of this Test match as well as the pitch’s behavior. As long as people in India keep their mouths shut and don’t discuss Indian pitches, I don’t mind playing on pitches like these,” Rohit remarked following India’s seven-wicket victory at Newlands, where the visitors needed just 107 overs and slightly more than four sessions to tie the series.