India continued their command over South Africa on Day 2 of the first Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, largely thanks to the exploits of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. After bundling the Proteas out for a modest 159, India resumed their innings from 37/1. However, their batters found runs hard to come by against a disciplined South African bowling attack. Eventually, India were bowled out for 189, gaining a slim lead.
Despite the struggles with the bat, India’s bowlers ensured that the advantage was not wasted. By stumps, South Africa were reeling at 93/7, leading by just 63 runs, with Jadeja emerging as the standout performer. His figures of 4/29 in 13 overs helped India move one step closer to a potential victory. As the day unfolded, several unique records and milestones were achieved, making it one to remember.
Here are five notable records from Day 2 of the clash:
1 No Half-Centuries In First Innings For Both Teams In A Test In India
An unusual feat was observed as neither side managed a 50-plus score in their first innings. For South Africa, Aiden Markram top-scored with 31, while India’s highest scorer was KL Rahul with 39. This was only the third time such a scenario occurred in a Test match played in India. The previous instances happened in 1987 against the West Indies in Delhi and in 2015 during a match against South Africa in Nagpur.
2 KL Rahul Crosses 4000 Test Runs
KL Rahul reached a significant career milestone by completing 4000 runs in Test cricket. His gritty knock of 39 came off 119 balls and marked a journey spanning over 3977 days since his debut in 2014. With this, he became the 18th Indian to breach the 4000-run barrier, having featured in 66 Tests so far.
3 Jadeja Joins The 4000 Runs And 300 Wickets Club
Ravindra Jadeja etched his name among the all-time greats by completing the rare double of 4000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. This achievement places him in the company of legends like Kapil Dev, Sir Ian Botham, and Daniel Vettori, underscoring his value as one of the finest all-rounders of the modern era.
4 Jadeja’s Double Milestone In The WTC And At Home
Jadeja’s four-wicket haul brought him two more records. He became the third spinner to take 150 wickets in the World Test Championship, following Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin. Additionally, he became the fourth Indian bowler to claim 250 Test wickets at home, joining an elite group featuring Ashwin, Anil Kumble, and Harbhajan Singh.
5 India Push South Africa To The Brink
By reducing the visitors to 93/7, India showcased their bowling dominance once again. Jadeja’s spell was instrumental in breaking partnerships and putting India in a commanding position. With the Proteas leading by only 63 runs and just three wickets in hand, India appears poised to wrap up the innings quickly and chase down a modest target on Day 3.
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