- From 272/3 on Day 1, Team India got all-out for 327 on Day 3 morning.
- While some people rolled out a few funny memes, others termed it as mandatory SENA collapse.
There is a reason why Test cricket is one of the most exciting formats in the game. There is always a scope of a comeback for either side which is exactly what happened during the India vs South Africa game in Centurion. After KL Rahul’s century had put India in a commanding position on Day 1, the next day got washed out due to rain.
Things became extremely exciting for Day 3 as everything needed to speed up to force a result. Considering the fact that there is a rain forecast for the final day as well, fans were expecting India to play aggressive cricket before declaring their innings.
However, much to everyone’s surprise, the match took a dramatic twist as South Africa’s bowling duo of Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada wreaked havoc. From 272/3, the visitors suffered another batting collapse as they were bowled out on 327.
It was expected that the fans might go wild on Twitter in criticism of India’s batting. While some people rolled out a few funny memes, others termed it as mandatory SENA collapse.
Mandatory SENA collapse 🤷🏻♀️ #SAvsIND #SAvIND https://t.co/HE5y3tx1Lo
— Nisha Kashyap (@nishakashyapp) December 28, 2021
Indian batsmen on Day 1 Indian batsmen on Day 3 pic.twitter.com/isEVS5H58w
— Memewala Homie (@MemewalaHomie) December 28, 2021
30 minutes of bad cricket and Team India ― a never ending love story. #CricketTwitter #SAvIND #INDvsSA @BCCI
— Forever MSDian™🦁 (@4everMsdian07) December 28, 2021
A user hilariously tweeted that India’s batting needed a vaccination from the English virus, reflecting on the fact that Joe Root’s side also suffered a similar collapse earlier in the day against Australia.
JUST IN : English virus in Indian battling lineup, need vaccination ASAP#SAvIND #INDvsSA
— WHO (Not Lauv Ka Gana) (@itsHIMANSHUU) December 28, 2021
And while there were a few people who expressed their disappointment, most of the netizens looked rather delighted with the collapse. The common belief among everyone on the internet was the fact that a result in the match can now be enforced which might have not been the case if India had batted for a longer duration.
India doesn't play for draws, results will definitely come.. This one session has changed the game#INDvsSA #collapse
— Niket Vyas (@followme_nikz) December 28, 2021
Good collapse by India. Speeds up the game to force a result with rain coming in later days. Dravid so smart! #INDvSA
— Khuong Ho (@TehRealKhuong) December 28, 2021
Great from India here!
Trying to force a result. #SAvIND— Extremus Maximus (@Mercurial_Zen) December 28, 2021
Crazy batting from India. I said they had to move things ahead in the game but this wasn't what I had in mind. #SAvInd
— Rahul Puri (@rahulpuri) December 28, 2021
Match result is more important than personal milestone. Lord Shardul has once again put country first. We already lost a day. #SAvInd
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 28, 2021
This India collapse means we could have a result, if India continued batting we wouldn't have declared before tea today.
— Prantik (@Pran__07) December 28, 2021
As it turned out, India’s collapse did really open up the match for a gruelling game of Test cricket. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Dean Elgar in the 1st over of South Africa’s innings to set up the perfect platform for an exciting day of action.