India suffered a shambolic defeat by an innings and 32 runs in the first of a two-match Test series against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. This loss just didn’t end India’s wait for an elusive Test series win in the Rainbow Nation but also brought Rohit Sharma’s men down from the top spot of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.
India were unbeaten in the 2023-2025 cycle of the WTC before the first Test against the Proteas. The Asian giants had won one Test and drawn another against the West Indies in July. Now, they have tasted defeat for the first time and slipped to the fifth position, with 16 points and 44.44 percentage points (PCT). Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma and Co. moved to the top of the table with 12 points and a perfect 100 PCT.
India’s arch-rivals Pakistan are currently placed at No. 2, with 22 points and a PCT of 61.11. Their position could change depending on how they fare in the ongoing second Test against Australia in Melbourne. New Zealand and Bangladesh are joint third on the table with 12 points and a PCT of 50. Defending champions Australia are positioned at No. 6, one place below India, the team they defeated in the summit clash. The Aussies have 30 points in their kitty and a PCT of 41.67.
West Indies find themselves at No. 7, having registered only four points and PCT of 16.67. England are languishing at the second position from the bottom. They have nine points with a PCT of 15. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are at the bottom of the table, yet to bag their first points.
Dean Elgar, bowlers give South Africa memorable win
Speaking of the first Test of the series, Team India managed to get to 245 in their first innings against South Africa on the back of an excellent century from KL Rahul. The pitch eased out a little in the home side’s first innings and Dean Elgar, who is set to retire from international cricket after the end of the series, scored a fantastic 185.
South Africa took a mammoth 163-run lead in the first innings. The tourists came a cropper with the bat as they were bowled out for just 131. Virat Kohli was the lone warrior, scoring an 82-ball 76. While Kagiso Rabada starred with a five-for in the first innings, debutant Nandre Burger headlined the bowling card in the second, finishing with a four-wicket haul.
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