Who said what: Reactions to India's brilliant victory over South Africa in the First Test
After losing the ODI and the T20I series, India were looking to get back to winning ways in the four-match Test series. It was no surprise when the Mohali curator prepared a spin-conducive track, considering that India would go into the first Test with three spinners.
The fact that the Test match ended in three days is clear proof of the impact that the bowlers, especially spinners, had on the outcome of the match. After India finished Day Two on 125/2 with captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease, it seemed like India were set for a big total in the second innings.
However, Kohli's departure brought about an Indian batting collpase during which India lost eight wickets for just 39 runs. After Kohli and Pujara, only wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha made a score in double digits as the rest of the batsmen fell to South African spinners Imran Tahir and Simon Harmer.
Being set a target of 218 runs, South African batsmen were not able to tackle the Indian spin bowling as they folded for a measly 109 runs, losing the first Test by 108 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja, making a comeback into the Test squad, was named the man of the match for his eight-wicket haul in the Test match. In the first innings, Jadeja picked up 3/55 while in the second innings he got even better and picked up 5/21.
Indian captain Virat Kohli was delighted to win his first home Test match as Indian Test captain and was very happy with the team spirit. Kohli was pleased with Jadeja's effort and felt that he would be a vital cog in the Indian lineup.
“First Test as captain at home was a special occasion for me, it is a young team, building a strong team together. Seeing the way things have gone in the past month and half, the way we played here, a lot of credit has to go to the team. We thought if we are finding it difficult on this wicket, it is going to be difficult for them,” Kohli said in the presentation ceremony.
Hashim Amla, the South African captain, felt that the Proteas had a fair chance to chase down the target until they lost quick wickets. He gave credit to the Indian bowlers for bowling the Proteas out to win convincingly.
“200 was a chaseable total, probably 150 would have been more realistic, 150-160 would have been a fair challenge on a deteriorating wicket. There were some soft dismissals, we were in the game till we lost four or five and put pressure on the lower guys, Stiaan showed you could gets runs if you hung in there,” Amla said.
Here is how the world reacted to India's win over South Africa:
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra:
Just like playing seam-swing is an art...playing spin is an art too. Indians bowled and batted spin better. Well played ð??ð??ð??®ð??³ #IndvSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 7, 2015
All good Test teams have safe slip fielders...India has found one in Rahane. Huge positive. ð??ð??ð???ð??®ð??³
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 7, 2015
India have won the last four Test matches at home inside three days...against Australia, West Indies (2) and now, South Africa. #SpinToWin
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 7, 2015
Cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar:
Excellent captaincy by Virat, bringing Mishra on seeing AB's relative uncertainty against him in the first innings.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 7, 2015
Former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli:
#indvsa match on.well said@sanjaymanjrekar.the big threat amla n Ab
— vinodkambli (@vinodkambli349) November 7, 2015
Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien:
Promises to be a cracking game in Mohali!! #SA fighting back! #INDvSA
— Kevin O'Brien (@KevinOBrien113) November 7, 2015
Cricker commenatator Harsha Bhogle:
India have gone downhill like a car without breaks.......
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 7, 2015
Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman:
Congrats Ind on winning the 1st test.Bowlers did a fantastic job to defend a small targetð??V.imp knocks from Pujara&vijayð??#IndvsSA @BCCI
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 7, 2015
Former Sri Lanka cricketer-turned-commentator Russel Arnold:
Congratulations India !!!! Never easy to beat SA !!! Now you can all watch #SLvWI
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) November 7, 2015
Former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher:
Well played India!ð??ð?¼Too good in these conditions. They will want same sort of pitch for remaining tests,meaning toss becomes VERY important!
— mark boucher (@markb46) November 7, 2015
Former South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs:
Not one proteas batsman even tried the option of the sweep or lap to rotate the strike..not just a case of survival..#justsaying
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) November 7, 2015
Former Australian bowler Jason Gillespie:
Great work by India Aakash! https://t.co/zLEAIRXJrD
— Jason Gillespie (@YCCCDizzy) November 7, 2015