SPORTS

The quality of change-up bowlers often decides the result of a Test match. If there is no weak link, opposition batters get no respite and eventually succumb.

In Centurion, India's three experienced bowlers - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and R Ashwin - bowled 69.4 overs for 201 runs and seven wickets. With conditions getting easier for batting than on day one, 201 for 7 is a decent response to being bowled out for 245. However, the two less-experienced bowlers - Shardul Thakur in his 11th Test, and Prasidh Krishna on debut - went for 194 for 2 in 39 overs, which is where the Test was lost no matter how much India's batters are criticised for their second-innings collapse.

Team India displayed one of their worst performances in Test match cricket in a long time. The defeat by an inninings and 32 runs in hands of South Africa is their fifth straight loss in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealan, Australia) countries. This is also the first time India have lost by this margin under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma and only the third time since the start of 2015. Fair to say, this defeat will stay in memory for a long time and India will have to put up a brave fight in the 2nd Test to make up for the defeat here in Centurion.

KL Rahul (101; 137b, 14x4, 1x6) unfurled a classy, controlled hundred in difficult conditions in
Centurion on Wednesday. It’s not just about Rahul stealing the hearts of Indians fans with his
seventh Test hundred away from home — he has got just one at home in 25 innings — or
becoming the first non-South African to get two Test tons in Centurion, or scoring his second
successive ton at SuperSport Park. This innings was characterized by his alertness.

Double World Championships bronze medallist and two-time Olympian Vinesh Phogat announced on Tuesday that she is returning her Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards. The 29-year-old addressed a note to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media platform X to make her decision public.

Phogat's announcement comes four days after Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri. On December 21, Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik had announced her retirement hours after the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-backed Sanjay Singh's panel dominated the WFI polls.

The two-match Test series between India and South Africa begins today in Centurion. The Men in Blue will aim to make history by winning the series. They have never ever won a Test series in South Africa. Indian superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has rejoined the national team and will play a big role if India want to go all the way to beat South Africa. The Proteas Men are going through a sort of transition in Tests with some new players being tried out. Temba Bavuma has the tough task of keeping the Indians on back foot in the next two weeks and stop them from making history.