More misery for India as Two WTC points get docked after loss in Centurion Test

Team India ended 2023 with a miserable defeat to South Africa in the first test match. The home team won the game by an inning and 32 runs. There was more misery in store for the Indians as they were docked two points in their World Test Championship campaign.

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Cape Town will host the second game of the series which is set to begin on the Third of January. Dean Elgar who scored a match-winning 185 is set to play his final Test match for South Africa in front of his home crowd.

For Team India it is contemplation time with the batting order in particular. Virat Kohli top scorer for India scoring 76 runs while Shubman Gill scored 26. The rest of the batting unit failed to score double digits in a shambolic display with the bat.

India gets two points docked after loss in first Test –

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Cricket’s Apex Council on Friday confirmed that the Indian Cricket Team has been docked two points. The reason behind this move is that the Indians bowled their overs slowly and maintained a slow over-rate during the game. Rohit Sharma and his team now have slipped to fifth in the table after holding the top spot not too long ago.

Fast bowler Avesh Khan has joined the Indian team for the Cape Town Test Match. The 27-year-old is currently part of the India A team which is playing a four-day game against South Africa A. The right-arm pacer bowled 23.2 overs and picked 5-54 to bowl out the home team which earned him this call-up. 

One expects the Indian team to make a few changes for the Cape Town game. Shardul Thakur is under pressure after his performance with the ball during the Centurion game. There are also questions being raised about Shubman Gill and his number three position.

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Shubman Gill has had a terrific year with the bat in the ODI format but hasn’t clicked in Test Cricket. There is a good chance that Gill could be overlooked for the England series if he doesn’t perform in Cape Town. In that case, the Indian selectors will look to recall veteran batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane for the England series.