South Africa vs India, 1st Test at Centurion, SA v IND, Dec 26 2023 - Match Result

Thanks for your company over the last three days. Wish it was a tad longer, but worry not, we'll see you in the new year. Hope the 2nd Test will be a lot more closely fought and compelling. Have a great new year. Stay safe, mask up and enjoy the festivities. It's goodbye and goodnight from me, Shashank Kishore, on behalf of our crew: Deiva Muthu, Chandan Duroah and Thilak Gowda. Cheers

Dean Elgar is the Player of the Match for his 185. "Pretty special for me, rather just smile than cry (this is his farewell series) and enjoy the moment. Contribute to this team is what I've always wanted to do. Hasn't worked out sometimes, but it did here, massive effort to pick 20 wickets. It was a juicy wicket. Got to keep nice and simple, batting in Tests you have to simplify things. Focus on the ball, play nice and straight, play late. Wickets like that, one's got your name on it, got to ride the wave when it's in your favour. Good partnerships with Tony, David and Jans. You need fast bowlers and spinner potentially to take 20 wickets, need guys firing. KG was amazing, and a guy like Nandre just came to the fore. Awesome to see his performances. Really great team performance going forward. Glad to leave here on a high.

Rohit Sharma: Not good enough. Got decent runs having been put in. KL Rahul batted brilliantly, but we failed to exploit conditions with the ball. Batting was poor in the second innings, Virat batted brilliantly but if you have to win Tests, have to come together collectively. We failed to do that. Guys have come here before, we understand what to expect from the conditions. Every individual has his own plan. Our batters were challenged at different times. We didn't adapt well. We didn't bat well both times which is why we stand here. There were some positives. Not a lot when you finish the game inside three days. KL the way he batted, he showed what you need to do on that kind of pitch. Don't want to be too critical on the bowlers, they haven't played much here. We'll regroup and come back. It's important to regroup as quickly as we can, tough from a loss like these but as sportsmen you go through these times. Got to pick ourselves up.

5.03pm An abject surrender by India. If you grew up in the 1990s, this must feel like a proper throwback. Over their last five fours in these shores, India have competed hard and won at least one Test. That proud record is on the line here with one more to come in Jo'burg next week. India were briefly in it, courtesy KL Rahul's magnificent first-innings hundred but there's been very little else of note. Lots and lots of things to mull over and they'll have two extra days to do a de-brief, before preparing for Newlands.

South Africa have been absolutely sensational. SuperSport Park seems like a giant party waiting to take off. They're dancing in the grass banks. Dean Elgar plucks a stump out for posterity. It's his farewell series and he's started it with a magnificent match-winning 185, full of pluck and guts. There was a five-for from Rabada, wickets for debutant Nandre Burger and runs for debutant David Bedingham. The only real concern - or maybe it's not - heading into Cape Town is the fitness of Temba Bavuma. Can it be scripted any better for Elgar to lead his time in his farewell Test?

A massive patch of dark cloud is now hovering over SuperSport Park.

4.47pm That's drinks, with SA one wicket away from an innings win inside three days. Shashank will be back to apply the finishing touches.

Sumit: "For some one who grew up in the 90s watching Indian batsmen struggle match after match, series after series in SENA countries, its deja vu all over again ..."