At Centurion’s SuperSport Park, India lost miserably to South Africa in the opening Test match of a two-match series by an innings and 32 runs. In addition to prolonging India’s pursuit for an elusive Test series victory in the Rainbow Nation, this defeat knocked Rohit Sharma’s team from the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points standings.
Prior to the first Test against the Proteas, India had an undefeated record in the 2023–2025 World Tour cycle. Against the West Indies in July, the Asian behemoths had won one Test match and drawn another. With 16 points and 44.44 percentage points (PCT), they have now experienced a loss for the first time and have fallen to fifth place. Temba Bavuma and company, on the other hand, stormed to the top of the table with 12 points and a flawless 100 PCT.
The fiercest adversaries of India With 22 points and a PCT of 61.11, Pakistan is now ranked second. Whether or not they perform well in the ongoing second Test against Australia in Melbourne could affect their standing. With 12 points and a PCT of 50, New Zealand and Bangladesh are tied for third place in the table. The side they beat in the summit match, India, is ranked No. 6, one spot below the defending champions, Australia. With a PCT of 41.67, the Aussies have 30 points in their bag.
The West Indies, with just four points and a PCT of 16.67, are ranked seventh. Second from the bottom is where England is currently suffering. With a PCT of 15, they have nine points. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has not yet earned a point and is at the bottom of the standings.
Dean Elgar and South Africa’s bowlers produce a stunning victory.
Regarding the opening Test of the series, Team India overcame South Africa by reaching 245 in the first innings thanks to a superb century from KL Rahul. In the first inning, the home team’s pitch loosened a bit, and Dean Elgar—who will soon announce his retirement from international cricket—scored an incredible 185.
In the first inning, South Africa jumped off to a commanding 163-run advantage. The tourists were knocked out for just 131 after making a batting blunder. With an 82-ball 76, Virat Kohli was the lone warrior. Kagiso Rabada shined in the first inning with a five-for, while Nandre Burger, making his bowling debut, was the highlight of the second inning with a four-wicket haul.
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