5 Times India came back from the dead in a Test match

5) India vs South Africa at Johannesburg in January 2018

South Africa v India - 3rd Test Day 3

A total of 187 runs was all India could manage in the first innings of the third Test of their tour of the rainbow nation this year. Despite Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli’s defiant fifties and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s valuable contribution of 30 down the order, the rest of the batting line-up had no answers for the questions raised by the South African pacers.

But the Indian pacers put on a spirited performance and allowed South Africa to stretch their lead as far as to only 7 runs as they bowled the hosts out for 194 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 18.5-2-54-5.

With fighting batting performances from Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami India managed to put on a challenging total of 247 runs in their second innings, hence leaving the hosts to chase down a daunting 241 runs on that pitch, which was a paradise for the pacers and a nightmare for the batsmen.

It was Mohammed Shami this time who registered a five-wicket haul and hence bowled the hosts for 177 runs with help from the other bowlers. But it was Kumar who was adjudged the ‘Man of the Match’ for his contributions of 30-odd runs in each innings and bowling figures of 4/83.