OTD | India registered biggest innings win over South Africa in Tests in 2019

India are currently the No.1 side in all formats of the game. On 13 October 2019, the Men in Blue side registered their biggest win against South Africa in Test cricket. The Men in Blue, in Ranchi, outplayed the visitors by an innings and 202 runs to register their biggest victory over the Proteas in Test history.  

The hosts entered the second test match with 10 wins, tying them with the Australian sides led by Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor between November 1994 and November 2000 and Ricky Ponting between July 2004 and November 2008. After winning the Test, they recorded their 11th straight home Test series win after defeating South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the second Test in Pune. 

After that win, they became the side for the most successive Test wins at home. Team India won the first match at Visakhapatnam by 203 runs. The hosts scripted history as they enforced the first series whitewash against them. 

Batting first, India scored 497 runs, with opener Rohit Sharma registering his maiden and only double century against the Proteas as the current Indian skipper scored 212 runs. Ajinkya Rahane the former vice captain also scored 115 runs. In reply, South Africa had no answers for the Indian bowlers as they bowled brilliantly by outclassing the batters. As they were bundled out for 162 runs in just 56.2 overs, Zubayr Hamza scored some runs as he added 62 runs. Umesh Yadav picked up three wickets while Mohammed Shami, Shahbaz Nadeem, and Ravindra Jadeja had two wickets each. 

India enforced a follow-on for the visitors and again they collapsed at 133 and the host had an easy victory. This time Shami picked up a three-wicket haul, while Umesh and Nadeem had two wickets each.

The team lost their second consecutive World Test Championship final against Australia. Rohit Sharma and Co. are currently busy with the ODI World Cup 2023

as they won their second match of the marquee tournament against Afghanistan.