IND vs SA - Newlands becomes pacers paradise as India wins shortest and historic Test in Cape Town

Day 2 of the 2nd Test between South Africa and India unfolded with a myriad of events, including drama, impressive performances from pacers, a century by Aiden Markram, and even a display of acting and dance skills by Virat Kohli. This is also India's first-ever victory at Newlands in Cape Town which they won by 7 wickets. With this victory, India levelled the 2-match series and became the 1st Asian side to win a Test in Cape Town.

Significantly, this game concluded in just 107 overs, marking it as one of the shortest Test matches - in terms of delivers bowled.

Shortest completed Test matches (by balls bowled)
642 - SA vs IND, Cape Town, 2024
656 - AUS vs SA, Melbourne, 1932
672 - WI vs ENG, Bridgetown, 1935
788 - ENG vs AUS, Manchester, 1888
792 - ENG vs AUS, Lord’s, 1888

Jasprit Bumrah played a pivotal role on the second day, claiming a 6-wicket haul, while Aiden Markram stood out as the lone player to navigate the challenges of the tricky surface, amassing 106 runs. Although India needed only 79 runs to win, the track remained as tricky as it was on Day 1.

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Bumrah secured a remarkable six-wicket haul, and skipper Rohit Sharma, with an unbeaten 17, concluded proceedings for India. Opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal had a promising start but fell for 28. Shubman Gill contributed 10 runs, and Virat Kohli added 12 to ease the path for Team India. Shreyas Iyer sealed the victory with a winning boundary after Marco Jansen bowled a no-ball on the last ball of the 11th over.

This series also marked the farewell of Proteas stand-in skipper Dean Elgar, who announced his retirement from the game after the conclusion of the Test series against India.

Earlier in the day, Bumrah, who had taken one wicket at the end of Day 1 (Tristan Stubbs for 1), initiated Day 2 by dismissing David Bedingham (11), Kyle Verreynne (9), Marco Jansen (11), Keshav Maharaj (3), and Lungi Ngidi (8). While Mohammed Siraj secured the lone wicket in the 2nd innings of Markram, Mukesh Kumar claimed two wickets (taken on Day 1). Prasidh Krishna also contributed with a wicket, dismissing Kagiso Rabada for 2.

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Recapping Day 1, 23 wickets had fallen, with the Proteas trailing by 36 runs. Mohammed Siraj spearheaded a relentless bowling attack, claiming six wickets, while Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar contributed with two wickets each, limiting South Africa to a mere 55 runs.

When India batted, the challenges were evident as they amassed only 153 runs, securing a 98-run lead. Rohit Sharma (39), Shubman Gill (36), and Virat Kohli (46) were the only contributors in double digits, with six Indian batters facing a duck.

Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Nandre Burger each clinched three wickets, complemented by one run-out, leading to the dismissal of the Men in Blue.