In a display of unwavering dominance on their home turf, South Africa asserted their cricketing prowess by defeating India in the series opener at Centurion. The resounding victory, an innings and 32 runs, showcased the host team’s multifaceted strengths, with debutant Nandre Burger emerging as a standout performer.
His stellar performance, which saw him claim seven crucial wickets, played a pivotal role in securing the triumph for the Proteas, complemented by notable contributions from Kagiso Rabada and Dean Elgar. Among those acknowledging Nandre Burger’s remarkable debut was seasoned South African pacer Lungi Ngidi, who added a touch of humor to the accolades. Ngidi took to his Instagram story, quipping, “I mean who doesn’t like a burger.”
Burger’s impact was particularly evident in the first innings, where he unsettled the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill before dismissing the key batsman KL Rahul, who stood as India’s sole beacon in the challenging conditions at Centurion.
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Undeterred, Nandre Burger continued his exceptional performance in the second innings, securing four more wickets and maintaining relentless pressure on the struggling Indian lineup.
Even as Virat Kohli endeavored to anchor the Indian innings, Burger proved to be a persistent challenge from the opposite end, adding two more prized scalps to his tally. The Proteas’ stand-in captain, Dean Elgar, lauded Burger’s contribution, hailing him as the shining light for the team.
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“Massive effort by bowlers to pick up 20 wickets. It was quite juicy. You have got to keep it nice and simple. You need fast bowlers and spinners, ultimately you need those 20 wickets to win the series. That superb first spell by Rabada, and somebody like Nandre coming to the fore. That has been the shining light. Really a great team effort. Playing a two-test series, you can’t win if you don’t win the first one,” remarked Elgar, reflecting on the collective success of the South African team in the first Test.
