South Africa vs India 3rd Test, Day 2: 5 things we learnt from the day

#5 Bhuvneshwar Kumar does a Philander

Bhuvneshwar Kumar hit his straps early on day 2

India's very own swing king, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, was right on the money on day 2, forcing Dean Elgar and Kagiso Rabada onto the front foot before using his off-cutter like seam movement to beat the bat. Every single ball seemed like a replay of the other as Bhuvneshwar hit the right channel to consistently befuddle the batsmen.

His opening spell in the day read 5-4-1-1 with the sole wicket coming off a brilliantly bowled delivery at Dean Elgar. The South African opener, who had played and missed quite a lot early on, pushed at a ball that had to be played at but the seam movement caught his edge. Bhuvneshwar rip-roaring spell ensured that South Africa could barely get runs on the board in the first hour of the morning session.

He returned to set up AB de Villiers with outswingers and cleaned him up with a superb inswinger. Bhuvneshwar was the sole Indian bowler to threaten the stumps and reaped rewards for his control and skill.