White ball domination can't make you a Test batter: Mohammad Kaif

Former cricket player, Mohammad Kaif, has emphasised the importance of having sufficient first class experience when playing in demanding conditions, citing the Cape Town match between India and South Africa as an example. On the first day of the second Test at Newlands, South Africa was dismissed for 55, subsequently allowing India to seize a 98-run lead. After beginning at 153 for four, the away team ended up conceding their last six wickets without scoring in 18 balls. The home team subsequently let three wickets fall, trailing by 36 runs at close of play on day one.

Kaif critiqued how it isn’t a given that players who excel in limited overs cricket can also perform satisfactorily in Test cricket. Commenting on a social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Kaif said, "Cape Town once again showed that cricketers deficient in first class experience will continuously struggle with red ball. It's a fact that white ball mastery can't make you a Test batsman."

The devastation for South Africa began when Mohammed Siraj clinched six wickets, thus enabling India to bowl out South Africa in the first session of day one. Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar reinforced Siraj's efforts, with Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli then setting India on good footing prior to the South African bowlers rallying.

South Africa also posted its lowest ever Test score against India. In the post-play press conference, Dean Elgar expressed his expectation that the Proteas would set India a target of 100 in the challenging Cape Town conditions.