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'Unreal…' - Sachin Tendulkar Sums Up 23-Wicket Opening Day Of SA vs IND 2nd Test

image-lqy11locMohammed Siraj celebrating South Africa's batting collapse on Day 1 (AP)

Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his reaction to the 23-wicket opening day mayhem at Cape Town, one which occurred during the second Test of the two-match series between India and hosts South Africa.

As it turned out, Team India enveloped South Africa’s entire batting line-up for just 55 within the opening session, courtesy of Mohammed Siraj’s career-best figures of 6-15. The hosts fought back in the subsequent two sessions by folding up India for 153. South Africa lost three more wickets in their second batting recital in the final hour of the day, as they find themselves another 36 runs away from their first-innings deficit.


Sachin Tendulkar reacts to “unreal” opening day

Former Indian batsman and all-time great Sachin Tendulkar took to X (formerly Twitter) and expressed his astonishment over the 23-wicket mayhem that unfolded at the Newlands Cricket Ground on January 3.

The legendary cricketer claimed that he had boarded a flight after the hosts were folded up for 55, and he reached his home only to find South Africa batting again in the second innings in the evening. Tendulkar wrote:

“Cricket in ‘24 begins with 23 wickets falling in a single day. Unreal! Boarded a flight when South Africa was all out, and now that I'm home, the TV shows South Africa has lost 3 wickets. What did I miss?”


Earlier in the day, South Africa’s stand-in skipper and outbound cricketer Dean Elgar had opted to bat first after winning the toss. Mohammed Siraj struck early for his side by packing six of South Africa’s top seven batters with the new-ball, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar picking up the remaining wickets on offer to curtail the hosts innings for just 55 in 23.2 overs.

In response, India reached 153-4 after Tea break, only to lose their final six wickets without adding a single run to their total. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger snared three wickets each in the innings to restrict the Indian lead to just 98 runs.

South Africa will now resume their second innings at 62-3, still 36 runs away from India’s half-stage advantage.