Team India has been docked two World Test Championship (WTC) points after their defeat by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test against South Africa. This match was played at the SuperSport Park in Centurion from December 26 onwards.
The match saw India performing poorly in all three departments- batting, bowling, and catching. India was asked to bat first in overcast conditions and barely made 245 runs in the first innings. Most of the runs were scored by KL Rahul, who made a sublime 101. Kagiso Rabada picked 5/59 for Proteas.
In response, South Africa piled on 408 runs with Dean Elgar, who is playing his final Test series, scoring 185, while debutant David Bedingham made 56 and Marco Jansen remained unbeaten on 84. With figures of 4/69, Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowling lineup.
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In the second innings, only Virat Kohli (76) and Shubman Gill (26) reached double figures as India was bowled out for 131 in 34.1 overs. India lost the Test by an innings and 32 runs, while debutant Nandre Burger took 4/33 and seven wickets in the match.
If the hurt of the humiliating loss wasn’t enough, India has been docked two WTC points for maintaining a slow over rate in the Centurion Test. Along with this, the team has been slapped with a 10 percent match fee fine.
"India captain Rohit Sharma pled guilty to the offense and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing," stated ICC in their statement.
The result also puts India in a precarious position in the World Test Championship. Before the penalty, they were placed fifth in the points table with 16 points and a PCT of 44.44.
After the penalty, they've dropped below Australia to sixth spot with a PCT of 38.39. India plays one more Test in South Africa before returning home.
