'Enough Time to Play 3rd And Deciding Test': Kevin Pietersen After India's Triumph in Cape Town

Team India clinched a historic victory against South Africa to level the Test series at Newlands in Cape Town. Chasing a 79-run target, India scored the winning runs in 12 overs to complete the quickest win in the history of Test cricket. The visitors secured the win on the second day of the Test. The second and final fixture of the series between India and South Africa, also turned out to be the shortest Test win ever registered, in terms of deliveries bowled.

More than the triumph, the resounding manner in which India claimed the win impressed many. Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen even stated that a third Test could have been played to break the series deadlock.

“There’s enough time to play the 3rd and deciding Test match to start tomorrow in Cape Town. There’ll absolutely be a result in the series and the players won’t miss their scheduled flights home,” Kevin Pietersen wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Needless to say, Team India skipper Rohit Sharma was delighted with his players’ performance. He even stated that this victory was on par with their Gaba heist during the 2020-21 tour of Australia. Back then, India became the first side since 1988 to get the better of Australia at the venue in January 2021. India had, eventually, gone on to earn a remarkable 2-1 series win Down Under.

“It’ll be one of our best Test match victories. Having not won here in Cape Town (before) obviously this puts it right up there with all the victories that we’ve had. It’s very hard to compare the Test matches that you play because every Test match has its own importance and own relevance. The Test match that we won at The Gabba as well. The last Test match that was lost by Australia in Brisbane was in 1988, I think. Nearly after 23-24 years (32 years) we won the Test match there. It kind of became like their fortress. They never lose a Test match there,” Rohit Sharma told reporters after India’s victory onThursday.

The Indian cricket team will next be up against Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The first match of the series is scheduled to be played in Mohali on January 11.