Proteas captain Dean Elgar led his side from the front, smashing an unbeaten half-century to help hosts upstage the visitors in the rain-marred encounter to register their first-ever triumph at the Bullring.
Elgar batted outstandingly well in front of the high-quality Indian bowling attack and stood like a rock in the successful chase of 240. Elgar remained unbeaten for 96 to take his side over the finish line. Apart from Elgar, batter Rassie van der Dussen (40 off 92) and Temba Bavuma (23 no) made valuable contributions as the home team won the contest.
For India, Mohammed Shami (1/55), Shardul Thakur (1/47), and Ravichandran Ashwin (1/26) picked one wicket each.
Highest successful 4th innings chases vs India:
- 339 – Australia, Perth 1977/78
- 276 – West Indies, Delhi 1987/88
- 240 – South Africa, Johannesburg 2021/22*
- 213 – Ner Zealand, Wellington 1998/99
- 211 – South Africa, Cape Town 2006/07
Here is how Twitter reacted:
? RESULT | #Proteas WIN BY 7 WICKETS
?? Captain Dean Elgar's unbeaten 96 was the mainstay of the #Proteas chase as he showed plenty of fight and grit to get his side over the line and level the #BetwayTestSeries#SAvIND #FreedomTestSeries #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/uez5t7RRqZ
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2022
Seen a few over time, but that is One of SA crickets greatest test wins! #INDvsSA #Proteas
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) January 6, 2022
Not the result we wanted, but everything still left to play for in the series.
Let's bounce back strong, #TeamIndia! ?#SAvIND #OrangeArmy ?: CSA pic.twitter.com/uDaiY6aPRD
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 6, 2022
We criticize when things don't go well, but we also need to congratulate those involved when they play well.
Well done Mark Boucher, Dean Elgar and the team!#SAvIND
— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) January 6, 2022
The #WTC23 standings after South Africa's historic win over India ? pic.twitter.com/4OFegawy7F
— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2022
South African cricket needed that panacea. Leaders lead from the front ; Dean Elgar,,,,HERO??.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) January 6, 2022
Dean Elgar is one tough bastard. It's fitting he's anchoring this run-chase. Since the start of 2018 only one batsman has batted against tougher bowling/conditions according to our xAve model & only two (Pujara & Rahane) have taken more blows on the helmet, body & gloves. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/TVuGyD8TM7
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) January 6, 2022
England should offer Dean Elgar a passport. Will help resolve their batting and our bowling problems some… #INDvsSA
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) January 6, 2022
South Africa win the second Test by 7 wickets.
The series is now leveled at 1-1. #TeamIndia will bounce back in the third Test. ? ? #SAvIND
Scorecard https://t.co/b3aaGXmBg9 pic.twitter.com/s5z3Z01xTx
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 6, 2022
86 not out in 2018: SA lost.
96 not out in 2022: SA won.
Dean Elgar has been one stubborn Test match batsman!
Wet ball, poor spells, unlucky instances, ordinary batting — no point blaming India.
Instead, give South Africa the credit. This was a tricky & an exceptional chase.
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) January 6, 2022
Congratulations to South Africa on a historic first ever test win over India at the Wanderers ? What a comeback after losing the first test at Centurion. It’s all set up for a cracking final test at Newlands next week!! Can’t wait ?#SAvIND #sscricket
— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) January 6, 2022
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