South Africa vs India 2018: Bhuvneshwar Kumar's stunning ball to dismiss AB de Villiers is SK Play of the Day
While India's decision to prefer Rohit Sharma over Ajinkya Rahane may have hogged the limelight at the start of the South African safari, the team management's inexplicable call to drop Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the second Test evaded as much scrutiny. While the outcome of the series may have been a foregone conclusion, the affable seamer showed what the visitors might have missed at Centurion.
On a lively surface at the Wanderers Stadium, Bhuvneshwar bowled with exemplary control and exploited the conducive conditions on offer to keep India in with a chance during the second day's play. The right-armer produced a moment of magic to help his team get rid of the in-form AB de Villiers.
The dynamic de Villiers, who had hammered game-changing half-centuries in the first two Tests, did not have any clue whatsoever as Bhuvneshwar's stunning delivery swung in to clatter the stumps.
Bhuvneshwar had set the tone at the start of the day by outclassing Dean Elgar with a probing spell. However, nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada joined hands with Hashim Amla to frustrate India. The unlikely left-right combination absorbed sustained pressure in a remarkable manner and blunted the spirits of the persevering seamers.
At 80/2, yet another match threatened to slip away from the Indians. But Ishant Sharma's persistence paid off. A searing delivery proved too much to handle for Rabada and the ball settled into the safe hands of Rahane at gully.
Bhuvneshwar trumps de Villiers
With the pitch quickening up considerably, the pronounced seam movement was beginning to conjoin with the extra pace and bounce. Unlike the opening day where the swing was somewhat manageable, the second day's play was even more challenging for batsmen as the bowlers could move the ball in the air rather than just relying on the surface.
While Amla was getting into the groove nicely, India were aware that de Villiers presented a bigger threat. The 33-year old's rapid rate of scoring had worked wonders for South Africa in the series thus far. Considering the devilish nature of the Johannesburg track, another quickfire knock could have taken the game out of the visitors' reach.
In the 32nd over of the innings, India could have prised out de Villiers. But Ishant Sharma's effort went to waste because of a missed chance at a review. The star batsman was unable to capitalise on his reprieve as Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced an unplayable delivery to breach his defence.
During the fourth delivery of the 37th over, Bhuvneshwar showed his penchant to generate extravagant swing. Upon starting way outside the off-stump, the ball swung sharply through the air and jagged back alarmingly to remove the middle stump. Not expecting such prodigious swing, de Villiers had hung on the back foot.
Without any significant foot movement, de Villiers attempted to unfurl a straight drive. But he had failed to cover for the tremendous in-swing. The enterprising right-hander sported a wry smile on his face as the stumps lay in tatters.
Visibly buoyed by the wicket of de Villiers, India continued to chip away at South Africa's middle-order. The likes of Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock did not last long either as Jasprit Bumrah joined in on the act and pocketed his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Eventually, the hosts were bowled out for 194 and had to settle for a slender seven-run first-innings lead.