Dean Elgar’s phenomenal knock of 185 bulldozed the visitors’ first-innings total of 245, propelling South Africa to a commanding lead of 163 runs by the conclusion of Day 3.
With India already under pressure, Kagiso Rabada showcased his brilliance in the third over by skillfully dismissing the opposition captain. In pursuit of their inaugural series victory in South Africa, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal faced the daunting challenge of confronting the fiery Rabada, fresh from a five-wicket haul in the initial innings.
Rabada wasted no time in claiming another wicket, dismissing the Indian captain for the second time in this particular Test, setting an ideal start for the hosts. Within a couple of overs, Rabada’s strategic variation in delivery line bore fruit.
He artfully angled the fifth ball of the over towards the right-hander, pitching it precisely at the off-stump line. Rohit, compelled to play, found the ball teasingly veer away at the last moment, narrowly evading the edge of his bat to crash into the off-stump.
— Virat Sharma (@ViratSharm39743) December 28, 2023
This marked the second occasion in this Test and the seventh overall in red-ball cricket that Rabada outfoxed Rohit Sharma. The home crowd erupted in jubilation at this dismissal, leaving the Mumbaikar visibly surprised by the brilliance of Rabada’s delivery. The early setback for India led to a flurry of reactions on Twitter, with fans expressing their thoughts on this exceptional delivery.