India vs South Africa: Team India's record worsens in 'Rainbow Nation' after defeat in shortest Test

Team India’s wait for winning a Test series in South Africa extended even further following an innings defeat in the first Test in Centurion on Thursday. India are yet to conquer what has been dubbed as the Final Frontier, having won Test series in England, Australia and New Zealand previously. South Africa remains the only country among the SENA countries where India are yet to win a Test series.

IND vs SA: Rohit Sharma and Co get a reality check with innings thrashing in Centurion

India’s batting was almost completely reliant on KL Rahul (101) in the first innings and Virat Kohli (76), and heading into India’s second innings, South Africa had only a 163-run lead, which they successfully defended. While Dean Elgar scored a fine century in South Africa’s first innings, Nandre Burger was the standout bowler for the hosts with seven wickets across the two innings.

India’s record in South Africa thus worsened and will now hope to draw level in the two-match series when the two teams meet for the New Years’ Test in Cape Town stating from 3 January.

We now take a look at some important stats from the Boxing Day Test:

—The just-concluded Test in Centurion was the shortest-ever Test match taken place between India and South Africa. The first Test at SuperSport park lasted all but 1263 balls, going past the Ranchi Test in 2019, when the Test ended in 1325 balls.

—Thursday’s loss by an innings and 32 runs was India’s 13^th loss in Tests in South Africa. India have played 24 matches in the Rainbow Nation so far, with just four wins, 13 defeats and seven draws.

—India have played nine series against the Proteas in South Africa, and the hosts have emerged victorious in all but one series, a 1-1 drawn series in 2010-11.

—India’s four Test wins in South Africa have come in 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2021. Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni led India’s wins in 2006 and 2010, while Virat Kohli led his team’s wins in 2018 and 2021.

—In comparison to India’s Test record in South Africa, the Proteas are at the receiving end as far as their Test record in India is concerned. South Africa have played 19 Tests in India, having won just five matches, drawn three and lost 11 matches.

—Rohit Sharma’s batting average in South Africa in worrisome. He endures a batting average of 12.8 in South Africa, making it the second lowest for any player with minimum of 10 innings while batting in South Africa in the top six position. Mohammed Hafeez had an average of 11.83 in 12 innings he had batted in South Africa.