Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Team India for breaking the jinx by registering their first-ever Test win against South Africa in Cape Town. After having a 98-run first-innings lead, Team India bundled out the Proteas for 176 in their second essay on Day 2 of the second and final Test on Thursday, January 4 as well. Team India then chased down the 79-run fourth-innings target with seven wickets in hand to equal the series.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “India have won. We have broken the jinx. We have won in Cape Town. Who was saying that we can’t win? I mean, we hadn’t won till now but have won now, and interestingly enough, won on a very bad pitch. Jasprit Bumrah is a phenomenal bowler. It seemed like something wrong had happened. How could it have happened that a series got over in South Africa and Jasprit Bumrah didn’t do anything? He doesn’t go cold. He is a mighty guy. If Siraj took six wickets in the first innings, Bumrah said he is also there. When Bumrah’s ball starts going up and down, or left and right, he is unplayable.”

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However, Jasprit Bumrah registered figures of 6/61 in 13.5 overs in South Africa’s second innings. While Mukesh Kumar picked up two scalps, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna picked up a wicket apiece as well. Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra also applauded Aiden Markram for scoring a fighting century in South Africa’s second innings.

“Aiden Markram needs to be praised. He scored a hundred where the team is not scoring 100 runs. He is a proper player. I was extremely surprised that he wasn’t a part of the Test team some time ago. Markram scored a century and everyone else gave ordinary performances,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “In the Indian team also, Yashasvi (Jaiswal) tried to score runs quickly. Shubman (Gill) got out, the ball stayed low. Virat Kohli was also caught down the leg side. In the end, India won by seven wickets.”