SA vs IND: Virat Kohli uses a tactically perfect approach to orchestrate Jansen’s dismissal after South Africa collapses to a 96 year low

After acting captain Dean Elgar decided to bat in Cape Town, Team India produced an amazing bowling performance, limiting hosts South Africa to only 55 runs in the first innings. Mohammed Siraj emerged as the main tormentor, breaking the Proteas’ back with a stunning bowling burst of 6/15, leaving the team in disarray after the first innings.

At Newlands, Jasprit Bumrah and rookie Mukesh Kumar each took two wickets to counterbalance the assault, putting on an incredible display of fast bowling. Following a strong innings and a surprising 32 run victory against India, the Proteas collapsed in the first innings, with Siraj unquestionably took centre stage.

The South African hitters were unable to manoeuvre because Siraj applied constant pressure. In just the 16th over of the innings, he had claimed five wickets, including the spectacular ball that removed South African batsman Marco Jansen from the game. The delivery was accurate in length and form; a full ball that was angled just outside off, drawing Jansen forward to defend, only to curve away late, giving Rahul an easy catch.

Replays following the wicket, interestingly, showed the former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, standing in slips and indicating to Siraj where to bowl to Jansen just prior to the ball. Additionally, Kohli gestured to Siraj to target Jansen’s outside edge, suggesting that the ball would be caught by KL Rahul or the slip fielders.

Surprisingly, the dismissal went down precisely as Kohli had planned, demonstrating not only the skill of India’s bowlers but also their keen tactical awareness. Watch the dismissal here: Team India showed their willingness to take control following a miserable performance in the first Test, where both hitters and bowlers failed badly in an innings defeat.

Siraj was displaying extraordinary technique and precision. India managed just 245 and 141 in the first and second innings, respectively, while the hosts amassed a formidable 408 runs, led by a powerful century from Dean Elgar..