The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli always prefer to take control of the proceedings and nothing changed on Day 2 of the 3rd Test against South Africa in Cape Town. He added plenty of energy in the first hour of Day 2 on Wednesday. The Indian fast bowlers, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah kept it tight and put pressure on South Africa after the hosts lost opener Aiden Markram early in the first over of the day itself.
Virat Kohli was constantly chirping from behind the stumps, reminding them of the importance of the ongoing series decider in Cape Town. However, the skipper was not happy with the on-field umpire Marais Erasmus, who gave an official warning to Mohammed Shami in the first hour for running on danger area of the pitch.
WATCH – Umesh Yadav Sends Middle-stump Keshav Maharaj For A Cartwheel
Virat Kohli walked up to umpire Erasmus and had a long discussion regarding the warning, arguing that Shami did not step on the danger area during his follow-up. Umpires have the right to warn bowlers from staying away from the danger area — the line of the stumps — on their follow-up to prevent the pitch from deteriorating faster than usual.
Here is the video of the incident:
— Benaam Baadshah (@BenaamBaadshah4) January 12, 2022
Erasmus gives a official warning to Shami for running in danger zone#INDvSA #Cricket #Shami pic.twitter.com/94790SQTCr
— Pushkar Pushp (@ppushp7) January 12, 2022
Here is our king @imVkohli fighting for Shami as he was given an official warning for running in the danger area in the bowling follow through. The replays showed he was well away from that red danger mark. #IndvSA King is back in his old form. Come Onnnnn! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/MsQ6742hlK
— Anurag Sinha (@anuragsinha1992) January 12, 2022
Replays showed that Mohammed Shami was marginally clear of the protected area during his follow-ups even as he was bowling from close to the stumps to get the ball move away from the right-handers in another terrific opening spell. Shami and Bumrah bowled 5 overs each in their first spells on Wednesday morning at Newlands as they made ball dance according to their tunes.
WATCH – Aiden Markram Misjudges A Ball From Jasprit Bumrah And Loses His Off-stump
While Bumrah got one to nip back in and hit the off-stump of Aiden Markram who shouldered arms, Shami kept beating Keegan Petersen and nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj with balls that nipped away. The pressure created by Shami and Bumrah in the opening hour helped Umesh Yadav get Maharaj out after the nightwatchman added 25 crucial runs to the tally.
Earlier in the match, Virat Kohli returned after missing the 2nd Test due to an upper back spasm and straightaway led the team front the front with the bat. He won the toss and decided to bat and hit a gritty 79 but the rest of the batters failed to step up as the visitors were bundled out for 223 on Day 1 of the series finale.
