South Africa vs India 2018, 3rd Test - 5 Things which went right for India

#4 Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s all-round show

When Bhuvneshwar Kumar was dropped from the Indian team for the second Test, everyone was amused at his exclusion. And in the third Test when he was included, most of them would’ve expected him to do well with the ball given the green nature of the pitch. And he did superbly too.

But it was his contribution with the bat that was almost invaluable. Even in the first Test, he showed grit and determination while he was batting. But in tough conditions on the first day, he scored 30 to drag India’s score from 144/7 to 187. And in the second innings, he once again showed why he can be relied upon lower down the order. When he walked in at 148/6 in the second innings, India needed someone to support Ajinkya Rahane (who was batting well). And the way he batted was superb. He made a gritty 33 and helped India cross the 225-mark.

With the ball, he was simply brilliant. The way he swung the ball was pure class. He troubled the South African batsmen and took 3/44. The way he set up AB de Villiers and eventually dismissed him in the first innings was exceptional. In the second innings again, he kept the runs down and maintained pressure from his end when South Africa were going well. He finished with 1/39 in the second innings.