With both teams coming off consecutive wins, the highly anticipated clash between India and South Africa was expected to be a thriller. India won the toss and opted to bat first, starting strong with 15 runs off Marco Jansen’s opening over.
However, captain Aiden Markram’s strategy to introduce left-arm orthodox spinner Keshav Maharaj from the opposite end quickly turned the tide in South Africa’s favor, as Maharaj swiftly removed Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant.
In the second over, after conceding a couple of boundaries in the first two balls, Maharaj delivered a fuller one on the fourth. Rohit Sharma, looking confident, attempted a sweep but ended up hitting it aerially into the hands of Heinrich Klaasen, who made a diving catch to his left.
Two balls later, Pant, the new batter, tried the same stroke but was deceived by Maharaj’s variation in pace, resulting in a top edge. The ball soared straight into the safe hands of Quinton de Kock, delivering an early blow to the Indian team.
— Johnson (@Johnson427427) June 29, 2024
— Johnson (@Johnson427427) June 29, 2024
The decision to bring Maharaj into the attack paid off significantly for South Africa, and here’s how the Twitterverse reacted to this move.
