India's Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar might have restored the balance in the match with their spirited batting but injured South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis feels the momentum is still in the home team's favour in the ongoing third and final Test in Cape Town.
Set a stiff target of 458 for victory, the hosts rode on centuries from Faf du Plessis (134) and AB de Villiers (103) but failed to pull off a sensational victory, falling short by a narrow margin of eight runs.
Kagiso Rabada took five wickets as they cruised to victory over West Indies
Former spinner Amit Mishra backed the inclusion of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to in the 2027 ODI World Cup, saying that there is no one better in the team who can handle pressure better than the legendary duo.
Earlier, South Africa England swung the bat to declare on 313-8 at tea on the fourth day, a taking huge lead of 491 runs.
Images from Day 1 in the fourth Test between India and South Africa, at New Delhi, on Thursday.
Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy completed 50 T20I wickets, becoming the second fastest Indian to reach the milestone in terms of matches played.
Andrew Hudson, convenor of selectors for the Proteas, said that South Africa would concentrate on its strong points when they announce their Test squad for the upcoming series against India.
South African stand-in captain Aiden Markram said home side Pakistan were well within their rights to prepare extreme turning wickets for their two-Test series, which starts in Lahore on Sunday, as they did last year to beat England.
They also said CA's decision devalues the ICC's World Test Championship.
Stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can extend their careers till the 2027 ODI World Cup if the two Indian superstars continue their age-defying batting efforts, feels New Zealand pace great Tim Southee.
After being repeatedly ignored by England, controversial cricketer Kevin Pietersen is now looking towards his 'country of birth'- South Africa, to make a return to international cricket. The former England captain admitted he is eyeing a return with South Africa, a country where he was born and raised. The 35-year old however also pointed out that there's more than a year to go before such a possibility can even arise. Pietersen, who will be 37-year-old by the time he becomes eligible to play for South Africa, said he is in a great frame of mind and trains hard to remain fit. "The eligibility for South Africa is still (over) a year away. So we will have to wait and see, but it is definitely still an option," he said. "I am in a great frame of mind now. I enjoy myself and don't take life too seriously.
Ravindra Jadeja said the looming series defeat to South Africa will have no bearing on India's next Test assignment in Sri Lanka in August next year.
Opener Dean Elgar hit an unbeaten 60 as South Africa coasted to a comfortable eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the final Test at Newlands on Tuesday to take the three-match series 2-0 and retain their ranking as the top side in Tests.
South Africa captain Hashim Amla feels frustrated over 'bizarre' rain-hit series against Bangladesh.
England replace Shoaib Bashir with Liam Dawson in playing XI for 4th Test against India
As he closes the most revered chapter of his career, here are some of his best Test knocks:
Photos from Day 2 of the fourth Test played at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi on Friday
South Africa captain Hashim Amla hailed his team's uncharacteristically dogged batting in the fourth and final test against India even though it was not enough to avert their third loss in the four-match series. Set a daunting 481-run victory target, South Africa resorted to extraordinary stone-walling at Feroz Shah Kotla, blocking over after over in their desperate bid to prolong the contest.
South Africa's injury list continues to grow as wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock has been ruled out of the remaining four ODIs and the ensuing T20Is series against India.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said they are mulling over whether to select a specialist batsman or all-rounder at number six for the opening one-day international against India on Wednesday.
For their next assignment in the ICC World Test Championship cycle, the two-time WTC runners up will aim to grab maximum points across those four home clashes. Here are five key questions the side must answer prior to their next Test match-up.
South Africa will look to grind the Indian bowlers and bat them out of the first Test in Centurion on Saturday, says opener Alviro Petersen, who hit a classy 114-ball 77.
South Africa had prepared for a spin onslaught in India but their batsmen were left flummoxed by the hosts' seam attack, captain Faf du Plessis said.
Afghanistan keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has no hesitation in admitting former KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir as the "best coach" that he has played under.
'I want my performances to speak. I want to focus on things which are very simple. I don't want to complicate things,' says the medium-pacer, the star of India's last tour of South Africa.
'Rishabh Pant is not fit for West Indies series, hopefully he will be available for home Tests against South Africa.'
South Africa made an early breakthrough with the wicket of West Indian Leon Johnson when play got underway on a rain-delayed fourth day of the third and final Test at Newlands on Monday.
India's Test captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday asserted that he will play in the three-match ODI series in South Africa next month, putting to rest speculations about his availability and his equation with newly-appointed white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma.
South Africa made a sedate start to their second innings after conceding a 78-run first innings lead to a spirited Bangladesh on day three of the opening Test at Chittagong on Thursday.
A look back at a few memorable showdowns in the last decade and half that had the quintessential crests and troughs of Test cricket.
Duanne Olivier exploded on to the Test scene four years ago and took 48 wickets in 10 Tests, at an average below 20, but then took up a Kolpak contract with English county Yorkshire that meant he was lost to South African cricket.
India's pace bowlers staged a dramatic turnaround and the lanky Ishant Sharma (3/64) played a crucial role as he triggered the shocking batting collapse by dismissing Hashim Amla (36) and Jaques Kallis (0) off consecutive deliveries. Statistical highlights of the second day's play in the first cricket Test between India and South Africa in Johannesburg.
David Warner took over from Mitchell Johnson as South Africa's tormentor-in-chief as the Australian opener blitzed a quickfire century to extend his team's huge lead on the third day of the first Test on Friday.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took three wickets as South Africa bowled India out for 187 to take the opening day honours on a seaming wicket in the third and final Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
'I want to be conventional and also blend with out-of-box thinking. Want to have nice balance...'
Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar hit their second successive centuries before South Africa staged a late fightback on day two of the second and final Test, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Sunday. At close, India were 342 for five in 76 overs, a lead of 46 runs after South Africa were bowled out for 296 in their first innings.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma still seem to have steam in them as batters and the two superstars should be allowed to take a call on their future, reckoned former India cricketer and selector Madan Lal.
Shubman Gill retired hurt after suffering a neck sprain while attempting a slog-sweep off Simon Harmer on the second day of the first Test against South Africa, in Kolkata, on Saturday.
Captain Hashim Amla has said South Africa were suffering a crisis of confidence following a woeful 2015 which culminated with a 241-run defeat to England in the first Test.
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