Virat Kohli Becomes First Indian Captain and Also First in 11 Years to Enforce Follow-On on South Africa in Test Cricket

Virat Kohli became the first international captain in 11 years to enforce the follow-on on South Africa in Test cricket. Kohli, who has so far won 4 and drawn 2 after enforcing the follow-on, thus became the first skipper since 2008 to impose the follow-on on South Africa. This is also the first time India India have enforced the follow-on against South Africa. The hosts are the first team since England at Lord’s to ask South Africa to bat again in a Test match. India led the Proteas by 326 runs at the end of the first innings in the 2nd India vs South Africa Test match. India bowled out the visitors for 275 in the first essay after declaring their innings at 601 runs. India Vs South Africa, Live Cricket Score 2nd Test Match.

Asking South Africa to bat again – with the visitors 326 runs behind and batting on deteriorating Day 4 pitch – means India set themselves a great opportunity to seal a series win at Pune Virat Kohli’s-men had earlier bundled South Africa for just 275 runs in the first innings to take a massive first-innings lead with Ravichandran Ashwin leading the way with his 17th four-wicket haul in Test cricket. It was also the veteran off-spinner's second four-wicket haul against South Africa and his second successive four-fers at Pune. Umesh Yadav – Playing his first Test in almost a year’s time – was India’s second-best bowler. The speedster took a three-wicket haul – his 11th in Test cricket – on his return to the Indian Test team.

Records This Follow-On Made

Interestingly, Kohli hasn’t lost a game every time India have enforced a follow-on on the opposition team. The 30-year-old, however, has a clean slate every time he has decided to not impose the follow-on. India won all the seven matches in which Kohli decided to go against enforcing the follow-on. While in the other six matches – prior to this – that Kohli decided to impose the follow-on, India won four and drew the other two games.

The last time South Africa were asked to follow-on was against England in 2008. That game at the Lord's cricket ground ended in a draw after the Proteas fought back with three individual hundreds in the second innings to bat England out of the game.

England, batting first, declared at 593/8 with centuries from Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell before bowling out South Africa for just 247. Monty Panesar took a four-wicket haul in the first innings. But asked to bat again, South Africa ended the Test match at 393/3 with Graeme Smith, Meil Mckenzie and Hashim Amla hitting hundreds to save South Africa's day in that game.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 13, 2019 10:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).