India vs South Africa Highlights, 1st Test Day 3: Virat Kohli removed for 76, SA humiliate IND by an innings and 32 run win in Centurion

We were not good enough to win. Having put into bat, KL batted well to get us that score but then we didn't exploit the conditions with the ball and then again didn't show up today with the bat. If we have to win Test matches, we have to come together collectively and we didn't do that. Guys have come here before, we know what to expect and everyone has their own plan. Our batters were challenged and we didn't adapt well. This is a boundary scoring ground, we saw them score many but we need to understand the opposition and their strengths as well. We didn't bat well in both innings, that's why we stand here. Not too many positives to finish the game within 3 days, but KL showed what we need to do on this sort of pitch. Our bowlers, a lot of these guys haven't been here before so I don't want to be too critical. Important for us to regroup, we go through these times as sportsmen and we need to be ready for the next Test now.

Marco Jansen to Virat Kohli, who looks to clear long on but Kagiso Rabada takes a diving stunner and South Africa have wrapped up an absolute Boxing Day beating of India. A total domination by their quicks that have inspired a win in less than three days, a win by an innings and 32 runs. 

Just the one wicket left and South Africa have got their fielders stationed at the boundary for Virat Kohli. He has to go all in here. Steals a couple of them off Nandre Burger. First, by advancing down the track and catching a thick edge that goes down backward point for four. Then, a lofted drive over mid off. Hands over the strike to Prasidh Krishna for the final couple of deliveries and Burger almost claims him caught behind off the final delivery. 

Nandre Burger continues. Mohammed Siraj is the new man in. He looks to push for a single off the first ball but is sent back by Kohli. There's a boundary off an edge that comes down fine leg but the important highlight is the wicket that follows. 

A sharp bouncer from round the wicket that takes Siraj by surprise. He's hit on the helmet but South Africa review for a caught behind. Excellent decision as the UltraEdge shows a spike off the tip of his thumb. India one wicket away from a big defeat. 

Oh the last thing India would've wanted here was this. Virat Kohli, looking to keep the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking, looks for two but Jasprit Bumrah is unable to get back in time and is run out at the non-striker's end. 

One can only give a shot at lip-reading him as he walks back to the dressing room. A shake of the head with former India captain Sunil Gavaskar lambasting the decision, 'Elementary! These are elementary mistakes.'

Kohli gets another boundary - off a thick outside edge - but the result looks inevitable from here. 

Having been dropped off the last ball of the previous over, Shardul Thakur's luck runs out two deliveries later. A sharp bounce off a good length and Thakur edges it straight to the fielder at gully. The cameras pan to coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma. Their faces say it all. India just haven't showed up on the day. 105/7, trailing by 58 runs.

Burger to Kohli, just whiskers past the outside edge. The latter gets to his fifty later in the over with wristly whip shot wide of the fielder at mid on. 

Off the last ball, Shardul Thakur gets lucky as he top edges one over the first slip and gets away with it. 

Shardul Thakur is the new batter in. After a tough day out with the ball, he wouldn't have thought his turn with the bat would come so early. Can he shoulder the burden here alongside Virat Kohli though? 

For now, India need to see this fire-breathing spell from the SA pacers. Kagiso Rabada offers just the one off his latest. Nandre Burger will be steaming in from the other end in pursuit of a hattrick. 

Nandre Burger replaces Marco Jansen and it's an inspired change!

KL Rahul lured into playing a wide cover drive and he's caught at the second slip by Aiden Markram, who'd dropped Jaiswal off the very first delivery of the innings. 

Ravichandran Ashwin is the new batter in. And he goes after the short of a length delivery only to find David Bedingham at gully. A maiden over and two wickets, and Burger will be on a hattrick when he comes on for the next over.

Good bit of pressure put by Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, just the one run off the last two overs and off the last ball, Rabada bangs in a short one that hits Virat Kohli on the vizor. He straightaway asks Kohli if he's okay, nothing serious though as the latter confirms and continues on with a smile. 96/4 after 25 overs.

He'd been fiery good in the first spell and now Kagiso Rabada is back in the hunt as South Africa look to kill this game. A wicket here should surely do that. Rabada sticking with the good length that's helped him be South Africa's lead bowler in this game so far. Just the three runs come off his first over in this new spell. India, 95/4.

Gerald Coetzee to Virat Kohli, pitched up on the off stump and Kohli gets underneath it to glance it between mid wicket and mid on for four. He's keeping the Indian crowd going at the SuperSport Park. Another glorious picking off Coetzee as he goes full and on the pads and Kohli just clips it square to collect four. 92/4 after 21 overs.

KL Rahul would've thought he'd put India in a position of promise when he got back in the dressing room the other day. But almost 24 hours later, he finds himself in a position of having to do it all again if India are to survive in this game. 

But just as important is to go behind the odd loose ball as he does in the 20th over from Marco Jansen, a cover drive for four to extract his first runs. Still a mountain ahead for these two.

Four wickets down, trailing behind by almost a 100 runs, Virat Kohli is still searching for the big runs. 

Gerald Coetzee goes short and wide outside the off stump and Kohli picks it with an exquisite punch in front of square for six. No secret here, South Africa will dish in an awful lot of deliveries outside his off stump. It's how he's lost his wicket of late in Tests. 78/4 after 19 overs.

Marco Jansen from the other end, dishes a delivery too far down the leg side and Kohli flicks it with rutheless precision for four. Next up, a delivery on the middle stump that's punched down the ground for three more runs. This is crucial from India's perspective. They know South African pacers aren't giving much room for scoring, so whatever opportunities they're afforded shall have to be made most of. 

The issue is the wickets falling at a swift rate. Jansen beats Shreyas Iyer and rattles his off stump. South Africa have a fourth. 

In come Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer with the burden to bring India back in this game. They cannot afford to lose another wicket on the day. These two will have to bat out the final session. South Africa can smell blood here. 

It's Gerald Coetzee who gets us underway, and straightaway Kohli with a sign of intent. Three runs collected. He'll have to be the captain of the ship here. 

Marco Jansen to Shreyas Iyer. The latter would've come prepared for this treatment but even then, it will hurt. A banged in short ball that hits him right on the glove. Good comeback on the next ball though, flicked down square leg for four. 

Then, a thick edge carries straight to the fielder at the third slip, Keegan Petersen, who drops it. That was a regulation take, not it from the hosts. But that'll have to do for this session. At Tea on Day 3, India are 62/3.

Good between battle between Gerald Coetzee and Virat Kohli. The latter had got a boundary off his last over. In this one, he tries to dance down the track to cut him through but misses the line altogether, almost nicking it behind. Despite the same, Kohli isn't putting a lid on his plan as of yet. 

Another wide delivery and he goes for the slice, gets lucky as it goes over the fielder at gully for four. That's the thing with express pace. You can rely on the fact that if you get the bat on it, it'll fly over the close in fielders more often than not. 

Shubman Gill had destabilized Marco Jansen's line and length from over the wicket. Back to back drives through the cover region got him two boundaries. Fifty up for India. Jansen switches to the other side of the wicket. Gill looks to play the cut shot but he's completely misread the length and made a mess of his middle stump. A third wicket lost!

Marco Jansen replaces Nandre Burger, and Virat Kohli seizes in on the new bowler's first over. 

A half volley off the very first ball is driven with perfection wide of mid off for four. Then, a cut shot off a wide delivery to beat the cover-point. A healthy over that for India. 39/2 after 12 overs.

Something to applaud for the Indian fans as Shubman Gill leans forward to latch onto a rare, overpitched delivery from Nandre Burger. Down the ground it goes for four. South Africa have been so good with their lengths, they'd hate to make a mess of that start. A fourth boundary for Gill. India, 23/2 after 10 overs. 

Nandre Burger from the other end steams in and makes umpire Paul Reiffel curl his lips as Shubman Gill is unable to read another delivery that whiskers past his outside edge. These two will have to stitch a partnership here for India. Good contest on offer at the other end as well with Virat Kohli squaring up against Kagiso Rabada. The latter beats has been all over the former India captain so far. Dark clouds surrounding the SuperSport Park, ominous setting for the Indian duo.

Kagiso Rabada gets another outside edge. Shubman Gill gets lucky as it sails past the fielder at gully for four runs. South Africa in control of this one, courtesy of their new-ball bowlers. Rabada gets another one to sing past Gill's outside edge. India, 18/2, trail by 145 runs. 

Edged and gone! India are two down. 

Nandre Burger gets the better of Yashasvi Jaiswal for the second time in this game. Surprises the southpaw with the bounce. Jaiswal, who didn't want anything with it was unable to bail out in time and the ball takes a deflection off his glove on its way to Kyle Verreynne. India two down and feeling the heat in Centurion. 

Kagiso Rabada is breathing fire but Shubman Gill decides to counterpunch. Two boundaries off the pacer's third over. A short arm jab through mid wicket to get off the mark with a four. And then, an uppish loft in the same region off a length delivery. 13/1 after five overs.

INDIA LOSE THEIR FIRST WICKET!

Who else but Kagiso Rabada! He'd hinted how sharp his nipping-in delivery from over the wicket was in that first over. And now he's got a wicket to show for it. Of Rohit Sharma. Brings one in to claim the Indian captain's off stump. Rohit departs without scoring a run. India, one down for five, still trailing by 158.

Nandre Burger, who claimed Jaiswal in the first innings, comes in from the same, over the wicket angle against the left-hander. Ample movement and bounce on offer on the very first ball. Jaiswal makes his first move off the next one, slightly back of a length and the Indian opener crunches it through covers for four. First boundary of the innings for India. 5/0 after two overs.

First ball from Rabada from wide of the crease and he picks an outside edge off Jaiswal but Aiden Markram spills it at second slip. "That's a birthday present for Yashasvi Jaiswal," remarks former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar on the comms. He gets off the mark with a drive down the ground for a single but the message from the Proteas pace spearhead has been sent. No easy runs incoming for India. 

So, 163 run advantage is what South Africa have as they huddle around Dean Elgar. No Temba Bavuma on the field but in Elgar they have the captain who helped them win a series against the same opposition after going 1-0 down. Big task ahead for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who turned 22 today, and captain Rohit Sharma to lay the foundation. With two innings done in two-and-a-half days, this ain't ending in a draw by any stretch of the imagination. Thrilling second innings coming up with Kagiso Rabada having the shiny red cherry in his hands. 

Jasprit Bumrah special!

Cleans up Nandre Burger off a fine yorker and that does it for South Africa's innings. Temba Bavuma, who picked up an injury on Day 1, won't be coming out to bat. Marco Jansen remains not out at 84. Bumrah claims four wickets and South Africa pick a lead of 163 runs at the end of their first innings.

Just when India thought they were gripping South Africa in a headlock with a couple of good overs, Marco Jansen finds a boundary off Jasprit Bumrah, again. A missed yorker and Jansen is confident enough to chip it straight down the ground for four. This, after a Bumrah bouncer whizzed past the side of his helmet. He'd tried to pull that one as well, followed by a mild caught appeal but it seems though as the ball had kissed the helmet. 407/8 after 107 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah to Marco Jansen. The field has been called in for the over and Jansen does well to drive it wide of the fielder at cover and mid off to pickpocket four more runs. 400 up for South Africa. 401/3 after 103 overs.

Prasidh Krishna runs in from the other end. And straightaway, dishes one outside the leg stump and it takes a deflection off Jansen and runs down fine leg for four. These are easy runs for South Africa and the Indian pacers need to put a halt on them. 397/8 after 102 overs. 

Jasprit Bumrah with the round-the-wicket angle to Kagiso Rabada manages to get one through his gates. Gives him a wry smile. That's a third wicket for Bumrah. South Africa lose their eighth in the first over after Lunch. The lead is still 147.

India were put on the backfoot for much of the first session. Barring the two wickets that included Dean Elgar's the men in blue have been timid in their approach. Here's to hoping things change early in the next session. 

Kagiso Rabada has come in following that wicket of Gerald Coetzee. He'll take strike as Jasprit Bumrah comes in to bowl the first over post Lunch.

Ravichandran Ashwin strikes at last!

A quick delivery on the off and Gerald Coetzee slams it straight to Mohammed Siraj at mid off. India have a seventh wicket. The umpires call for Lunch and South Africa are very much the favorites here. Leading by 147 runs and still three wickets in hand that includes an unbeaten Marco Jansen (72). Dropped shoulders among the Indian team, they really need this break, don't they. A quick cleanup on the other side of the break is the best chance they can offer themselves to win from here.

Prasidh Krishna replaces Shardul Thakur. Goes back of a length but Gerald Coetzee connects it with a wild heave and it traverses over long on for six. An aggressive fist bump between the two batters. South Africa very much in a commanding position here and they know it. Lead grows to 146.

Shardul Thakur smothered for 15 runs off his next over. 

Coetzee pulls a short one down the fine leg boundary before Marco Jansen takes the aerial route. Another short delivery, but straight at him. Out comes the pull shot all the way over deep backward square leg. Wraps up the over by helping a length ball down the fine leg rope for another four.

Gerald Coetzee is the new man in. And he gets off the mark with a boundary off Ravichandran Ashwin. Just pushes the full delivery down to the right of the bowler and it finds its way for four more runs. South Africa lead by 121 runs.

And, India finally have their man. Shardul Thakur keeps up with his reputation of picking big wickets out against the run of play. 

Bangs in a back of a length delivery outside the leg stump. We'd seen him do this before, only to be pulled down fine leg by Elgar. But this time, it catches the southpaw by surprise and it picks a deflection off his glove. A clean caught behind by KL Rahul, moving to his left. SA go for the review but the UltraEdge clearly shows a spike. A big standing ovation for Elgar as he walks back. He bangs his bat on the railing by the dressing room balcony. Tells you everything about him, doesn't it? South Africa, 360/6, lead by 115 runs.

Shardul Thakur scampers in from over the wicket. Goes short but it's way wide down the leg and Dean Elgar has no difficulty whatsoever and pulling it down fine leg. A diving KL Rahul gets a glove to it, but it's hit too well. Another boundary for Elgar, his 28th of the innings. Has to be some sort of personal record for him. 358/5 after 93 overs. South Africa lead by 113 runs.

The onslaught from the Proteas pair continues. Ravi Ashwin back with the ball. Serves an overpitched delivery outside off and Jansen meets it with a drive through extra cover. 'Shot!' comes the shout from Dean Elgar at the other end. These two are enjoying batting at the moment and India seem to be running out of answers. 100 partnership up for the sixth wicket. The lead is up to 104 now.

Goodness me, what a gorgeous piece of batting this from Marco Jansen!

Siraj dishes one on the fourth stump, good length, and Jansen lofts it on the rise over mid off for four. Held the pose for the cameras as well. Brings his fifty off the next ball, helping the delivery swaying down the leg side with a flick through fine leg. A second fifty in the format for the 23 year old. The lead for South Africa is now 93-run strong.

Now it's Jasprit Bumrah who resorts to a short one. Marco Jansen looks to commit to it before pulling out at the last second. Well, if he can't get the bat on that one, no one playing this Test match could've. A sharp stare from the bowler follows the delivery. Another maiden - fourth off the innings - for Bumrah. The lead is 82 after 87 overs of this South African innings.

Mohammed Siraj trying to cramp Dean Elgar for room by moving in from over the wicket, with five fielders lined up on the leg side. He's bowled more short deliveries than he did yesterday but India need him to work his magic while the ball's new. He's surely bamboozled the set batter with a sharp incoming delivery that moved from the off stump trajectory, only to pick an inside edge around the leg stump. More of the same needed from India's perspective. 327/5 after 86 overs.

Mohammed Siraj to Dean Elgar, length ball outside the off stump, and the southpaw waits for it on his back foot before cutting it clean through backward point for four. He's looked in divine touch today and given not a whiff of opportunity to the Indian bowlers. 323/5, first drinks break of the day with South Africa leading by 78 runs. 

Mohammed Siraj steams in from the other end instead of Ravichandran Ashwin and India have opted for the second new ball. Meanwhile, Dean Elgar surpasses his 160 against India in Vizag back in 2019. A new second highest score for him in Test cricket. His best is still the 199 he scored against Bangladesh. The way he's been going in this game, few would bet against him not going over that.

The change in bowling hasn't worked for India. First Krishna and now Thakur is getting peppered for boundaries. Two full deliveries offered outside the off stump. First, Jansen's thick edge goes between second slip and gully for four. Then, a half volley that's driven through the covers right off the middle of the willow. 311/5 after 81 overs and the lead is up to 66.

Shardul Thakur replaces Prasidh Krishna and India are persisting with the old ball for the moment. Fifty partnership up between Dean Elgar (159) and Marco Jansen (26) for the sixth wicket. The lead goes past the 50 mark as well as the hosts secure a solid position in Centurion.

Ravichandran Ashwin continues, and with India in desperate search of a wicket, the off-spinner almost gives them one. A length ball that swerved in and took a nick off Marco Jansen but KL Rahul behind the stumps hasn't anticipated the length perhaps as it takes a deflection of his knee. Another opportunity goes begging.

A maiden over from Ashwin but Krishna hasn't been able to get over the batters today. Width offered to Jansen outside the off stump and the right hander punches it down backward point for four. Stood tall and just slightly opened the face of the bat. South Africa inching closer to 300.

Prasidh Krishna round the wicket to Dean Elgar, offers a juicy full toss and the southpaw isn't going to miss out on those at this stage. Carved through covers for four, swiftly followed by an edge that races down short third for four. India's debutant hasn't had the best of outings, at all. 150 up for Elgar. 287/5 after 75 overs. The lead grows to 42.

Ravichandran Ashwin replaces Mohammed Siraj from the other end. Dean Elgar is the wicket India want at the moment and who better than their only spinner, who has an excellent record against left-handers. Off his first ball though, Elgar flicks it down for an easy single. India with a big dilemma at this stage to opt between an attacking field and cutting easy singles or controlling the flow of boundaries. 

Bumrah and Siraj had kept it tight in terms of any early boundaries in the day. In his first over of the day, Prasidh Krishna has looked wayward. First up, full and on the stumps, and Jansen swipes it across. Then, a delivery that strays too far down the leg side, flicked down fine leg for another boundary. The lead goes beyond 30.

Dean Elgar and Marco Jansen have negotiated with India's first choice seamers well and up comes the first change of the day for India. Prasidh Krishna replaces Jasprit Bumrah. An early change from the Indian skipper but perhaps they're reserving Bumrah's burst for the second new ball. The lead grows from 12 to 23 and as we've learnt from the cricket that's been played here, even a 100-run advantage is a big one.

Bumrah, accompanied by Siraj from the other end, in the first spell, almost provides India with a first breakthrough of the day. An incoming delivery that goes straight and keeps low after pitching, picks an outside edge off Marco Jansen but falls just short of KL Rahul. After 69 overs, the scorecard reads 269/5. 

Right then, the Indian players form a huddle as Dean Elgar and Marco Jansen walk in. Glorious sunshine atop as we await the first ball of the day. Who else but Jasprit Bumrah to get the action underway with Jansen on strike. These two had a fiery face off in 2022. Can  Bumrah ignite some of that fire to keep this game alive? Off we go with the first ball of the day.

From Dennis Lillee to Jeff Thompson to Shane Bond, they haven’t been the same post back injuries and surgeries. And given Bumrah’s peculiar action, which is considered injury-prone, there were more reasons to worry about his future in cricket after the injury he picked up last year. So how did he manage to make his comeback? Venkata Krishna with the story. (Read here)

While Dean Elgar was the subject of all the praises for the first knock of his last Test series for South Africa, playing his first Test innings on Wednesday was David Bedingham. The 29-year-old with more than 6,000 first-class runs under his belt finally got his first Test cap for the Proteas in Centurion and he'd make it count straightaway. 56 off 87 deliveries, where he took on Jasprit Bumrah both sides of the square. Not bad for a Test debut!