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The first Test between the South Africa National Cricket Team and the India National Cricket Team in the 2023-24 Freedom Series was one of the most anticipated matches of the season. India arrived in South Africa hoping to win a Test series in the country for the first time in history, while the Proteas aimed to continue their impressive home record.
The opening Test at Centurion, however, turned into a one-sided contest. South Africa’s pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and debutant Nandre Burger, put India under pressure before Dean Elgar produced a magnificent innings to guide the hosts to a commanding victory. This article covers the complete scorecard, key moments, records, and detailed analysis of the first Test.
Match Summary
- Match: South Africa vs India, 1st Test, Freedom Series 2023-24
- Date: December 26-28, 2023
- Venue: SuperSport Park, Centurion
- Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
- Result: South Africa won by an innings and 32 runs.
- Player of the Match: Dean Elgar.
South Africa outplayed India in all three departments and secured one of their biggest Test victories against the visitors.
Full Match Scorecard
India First Innings Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 17 | 37 | 4 | 0 |
| Rohit Sharma | 5 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Shubman Gill | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | 38 | 64 | 5 | 0 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 31 | 50 | 3 | 1 |
| KL Rahul | 101 | 137 | 14 | 4 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 8 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Shardul Thakur | 24 | 33 | 3 | 0 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 5 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 0* | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Extras: 12
Total: 245 all out in 67.4 overs.
India struggled against the moving ball and were rescued by KL Rahul’s brilliant century, which prevented an even lower total.
South Africa Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | 20.4 | 59 | 5 |
| Nandre Burger | 15 | 50 | 3 |
| Marco Jansen | 16 | 52 | 1 |
| Gerald Coetzee | 16 | 74 | 1 |
Rabada’s five-wicket haul once again underlined his status as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers.
South Africa First Innings Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | 5 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Dean Elgar | 185 | 287 | 28 | 0 |
| Tony de Zorzi | 28 | 62 | 5 | 0 |
| Keegan Petersen | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| David Bedingham | 56 | 87 | 7 | 0 |
| Kyle Verreynne | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Marco Jansen | 84 | 147 | 11 | 1 |
| Gerald Coetzee | 19 | 18 | 3 | 1 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Nandre Burger | 7 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Dane Paterson | Did Not Bat | – | – | – |
Extras: 15
Total: 408 all out in 108.4 overs.
Dean Elgar’s 185 was the defining innings of the match. The former South African captain looked in complete control and punished the Indian attack throughout his stay at the crease.
India Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 26.4 | 69 | 4 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 25 | 91 | 2 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 20 | 93 | 1 |
| Shardul Thakur | 19 | 101 | 1 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 18 | 51 | 2 |
Bumrah was India’s standout bowler, but the rest of the attack struggled to contain South Africa’s batters.
India Second Innings Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 5 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Rohit Sharma | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Shubman Gill | 26 | 37 | 6 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | 76 | 82 | 12 | 1 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 6 | 31 | 1 | 0 |
| KL Rahul | 4 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Shardul Thakur | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 0* | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Extras: 7
Total: 131 all out in 34.1 overs.
Apart from Virat Kohli’s fighting innings of 76, India’s batting once again failed against South Africa’s disciplined pace attack.
South Africa Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nandre Burger | 10 | 33 | 4 |
| Marco Jansen | 8 | 36 | 3 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 8 | 19 | 2 |
| Gerald Coetzee | 8.1 | 36 | 1 |
South Africa’s fast bowlers exploited the conditions brilliantly and wrapped up the victory inside three days.
Fall of Wickets
| Team | Score | Batter |
|---|---|---|
| India 1st Innings | 13 | Rohit Sharma |
| India 1st Innings | 24 | Shubman Gill |
| India 1st Innings | 92 | Virat Kohli |
| India 1st Innings | 107 | Shreyas Iyer |
| India 1st Innings | 208 | KL Rahul |
| South Africa | 11 | Aiden Markram |
| South Africa | 59 | Tony de Zorzi |
| South Africa | 95 | Keegan Petersen |
| South Africa | 244 | Dean Elgar |
| India 2nd Innings | 13 | Rohit Sharma |
| India 2nd Innings | 32 | Yashasvi Jaiswal |
| India 2nd Innings | 62 | Shubman Gill |
| India 2nd Innings | 96 | Virat Kohli |
The dismissal of Virat Kohli effectively ended India’s hopes of saving the match.
Match Result
South Africa defeated India by an innings and 32 runs.
The victory gave the Proteas a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series and maintained their excellent record at Centurion.
Player of the Match
Dean Elgar
- Runs: 185
- Balls Faced: 287
- Fours: 28
Playing his final Test series, Elgar produced one of the finest innings of his career and completely dominated the Indian bowlers.
Key Moments
KL Rahul’s Fighting Century
India were in serious trouble at 107/5 before Rahul played a magnificent innings to take his team to 245.
Dean Elgar’s Masterclass
The left-hander handled the challenging conditions perfectly and built partnerships that put South Africa in complete control.
Marco Jansen’s All-Round Contribution
Jansen scored an important 84 and later took three wickets in the second innings.
Virat Kohli’s Lone Battle
Kohli’s 76 in the second innings was the only major resistance from India’s batting lineup.
Match Highlights
- KL Rahul scored his eighth Test century.
- Kagiso Rabada claimed a five-wicket haul.
- Dean Elgar scored 185 in his final Test series.
- South Africa built a first-innings lead of 163 runs.
- India were bowled out for 131 in the second innings.
- The match ended inside three days.
Records Broken During the Match
- Dean Elgar registered his highest Test score against India.
- KL Rahul became the first visiting batter to score two Test centuries at Centurion.
- Kagiso Rabada crossed another major milestone in Test wickets.
- South Africa continued their unbeaten Test record against India at Centurion.
- India suffered one of their heaviest defeats in South Africa.
Head-to-Head Record
| Matches | India Wins | South Africa Wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 16 | 18 | 9 |
The rivalry has remained highly competitive over the years, with South Africa traditionally enjoying greater success in home conditions.
Recent Meetings
| Match | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test, Centurion 2023 | South Africa | Innings and 32 runs |
| 2nd Test, Cape Town 2024 | India | 7 wickets |
| Johannesburg Test 2022 | South Africa | 7 wickets |
| Cape Town Test 2022 | South Africa | 7 wickets |
| Centurion Test 2021 | India | 113 runs |
The results underline how difficult it is for visiting teams to win consistently in South Africa.
Major Records
| Record | Player/Team | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Most Test Runs | Jacques Kallis | Highest runs in India-South Africa Tests |
| Most Wickets | Dale Steyn | Leading wicket-taker in the rivalry |
| Highest Individual Score | Virender Sehwag | 319 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Javagal Srinath | 6/21 |
Several legendary players have shaped this rivalry, making every Test series highly anticipated.
Why This Match Was Significant
India entered the series with hopes of finally winning a Test series in South Africa. However, the opening defeat exposed familiar issues against high-quality pace bowling in seaming conditions.
For South Africa, the match demonstrated the strength of their pace attack and highlighted Dean Elgar’s immense value to the team.
Tactical Analysis
South Africa’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved decisive. Their fast bowlers consistently attacked the stumps and used the extra bounce effectively.
India’s bowlers created opportunities but struggled to maintain pressure for long periods, allowing South Africa to build substantial partnerships.
The difference between the two teams was their ability to capitalize on favorable conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the first Test between South Africa and India in 2023?
South Africa won the match by an innings and 32 runs.
2. Who was the Player of the Match?
Dean Elgar received the award for his outstanding innings of 185.
3. Who scored a century for India?
KL Rahul scored 101 in the first innings.
4. How many wickets did Kagiso Rabada take?
Rabada took five wickets in India’s first innings and two more in the second innings.
5. How many runs did Virat Kohli score in the second innings?
Virat Kohli scored a fighting 76 runs.
Conclusion
The South Africa National Cricket Team Vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard 1st Test reflects a dominant performance by the Proteas at Centurion. Dean Elgar’s magnificent 185, Kagiso Rabada’s fiery bowling, and a disciplined team effort helped South Africa secure an innings victory. Despite individual brilliance from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, India were unable to overcome South Africa’s pace attack, making the opening Test a memorable chapter in this long-standing cricket rivalry.
