Indian batter KL Rahul pulled off a sensational catch to dismiss Marco Jansen, leaving South Africa reeling at seven down for 91 on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The wicket came after the Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant suggested Kuldeep Yadav bowl around the wicket to create the perfect angle to trouble the left-hander.
KL Rahul pulls off a brilliant catch to seal Marco Jansen’s departure
Kuldeep’s delivery went straight on and caught Jansen off guard. The South African batter tried a slog-sweep but only managed to edge the ball. KL Rahul reacted quickly despite the glare from Pant behind the stumps. Rahul dived to his left and held onto a sharp, low catch.
The right-handed batter’s brilliant efforts stunned everyone. Pant’s advice, Kuldeep’s skill, and Rahul’s athleticism showcased India’s teamwork at its best against South Africa at Eden Gardens.
India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 2 Highlight
Meanwhile, Day 2 of the first Test at Eden Gardens ended in dramatic fashion as play was called off due to poor light in Kolkata. The South African team was left in a tough position, finishing the day at 93/7 in their second innings, trailing India by 63 runs at Eden Gardens.
Indian spinners completely dominated the Proteas’ batting lineup. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel spun a web around the South African batters, exploiting the pitch’s sharp turn and variable bounce. The wicket saw uneven bounce for pacers and plenty of movement for spinners, making batting extremely tricky for both teams.
The hosts had started Day 2 at 37/1, with KL Rahul and Washington Sundar taking the score to 75 before Simon Harmer made an impact. Harmer scalped four wickets, while Marco Jansen finished with three scalps, with KL Rahul being the top scorer with 39, as India was bowled out for just 189 runs.
Axar Patel confident any total under 125 is chaseable at Eden Gardens
With South Africa seven down for just 93 runs and struggling in tricky conditions, India is in a strong position heading into Day 3 at the Eden Gardens. However, Indian spin all-rounder Axar Patel said that any total under 125 is chaseable in Kolkata.
Axar Patel said after the end of Day 2: “From one end it feels like it’s going straight, but from the other end everything is happening. Have to play attacking cricket as a batter. Have to convert loose balls and keep an attacking mindset.
Can’t have a defensive mindset because you’re never in. When you know there’s something in it for the bowlers, you can get carried away by the thought of bowling some magic balls. Patience is key. If we can keep them under 125, it should be chaseable.”
Many, many, many times: KL Rahul on crying
Meanwhile, KL Rahul opened up about the emotional side of cricket in the first episode of Like an Athlete. He revealed that the game has made him cry many times, but players rarely show their feelings on camera. Rahul revealed that therapy has helped him a lot.
Rahul also expressed frustration at being labeled “soft” simply because he is soft-spoken and stays out of the media spotlight. He said, “Many, many, many times. It’s not that players don’t want to open up. We just don’t say it in front of the camera. Like every other Indian, we think that looking for help is a sign of weakness. It took me a lot to say that, okay, I will take therapy. It’s helped me tremendously. I suggest it to a lot of players in the dressing room as well.”