The much anticipated encounter between two best teams in modern day cricket finally got underway today South Africa won the toss and decided to put India in to field first but it wasn’t the kind of start that South Africa would have imagined even in its worst nightmares after deciding to bat first South Africa lost the first three wickets in quick succession.
After Bhuvneshwar Kumar decimated the South African top order ruthlessly this is a great start for India contrary to the expectations that South Africans would have the upper hand throughout the state series but India at the very beginning of this in counter has put for the narrative that India shouldn’t be taken lightly by Proteas for this team has all it takes to defeat them or at least fight it down the wire.
The Proteas were reduced to 12 for 3 in just 4.5 overs as Bhuvneshwar Kumar unleashed a dream spell. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s first victim was Dena Elgar who scored more than 1000 runs in tests in 2017.
Dena Elgar was dismissed for a duck and then Markram followed by South Africa’s run machine, Hashim Amla. Markram was dismissed for 5 while Amla was caught behind stumps when he was at a score of 3. This is a dream start for India to the South African tour and India would want to consolidate on it and penetrate further into the South African line up.
Clearly, the Proteas would’ve never imagined that India would bring them down to their knees like this on the very first day of the clash of Titans. After a successful year at home now Bhuvneshwar Kumar is proving his mettle away and most importantly he’s delivered brilliantly at the time when it was most needed.
AB De Villiers and Skipper Faf Du Plessis are now on the crease and under immense pressure to give some stability to their batting which crashed in no time. India is definitely on top of the game at this moment, one more wicket out of these two veteran Proteas batsmen and India would be holding the Proteas hopes by the neck.
Here are the twitter reactions:
Bhuvi is on fire…but we need to get ABD quickly #SAvIND
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 5, 2018
Amla gone, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has three.
The sound you hear is of the stunned silence of people who wanted to rubbish a side without even giving them a chance. #SAvIND
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 5, 2018
If you don’t appreciate this from @BhuviOfficial, you are just being J.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 5, 2018
It seems like #Bhuvi was thrilled after yesterday’s retention.
He’s on fire and how ?!@BhuviOfficial hunts down Amla.
Three down and SA are in trouble.#SAvIND #OrangeArmy— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 5, 2018
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 2018 Test statistics:
3 overs
5 runs
1 maiden
3 wickets including Hashim Amla for 3What a start. ?#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/njj7Xvrfs6
— bet365 (@bet365) January 5, 2018
And number 3!!!! @amlahash done. Fantastic start this from India and @BhuviOfficial one more before lunch and its India’s session.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 5, 2018
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the most clever bowlers in world cricket right now
Sees Markram move across the stumps and drive him through mid-off for four Follows it up with a ball jabbing back in, with more zing and no change in line for the wicket
brilliant bowling#INDvsSA— Neeraj Singh (@Singh_Neeraj007) January 5, 2018
A remarkable start for #TeamIndia as Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets his 3rd wicket and Amla has to go. #RSAvIND
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) January 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/Shahrcasm/status/949203247608180737?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has given India a flying start against South Africa. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/ffJ73PsATl
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) January 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/Shahrcasm/status/949203247608180737?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is doing well because after getting married he was doing practice instead of reception party, what will Kohli do?
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) January 5, 2018