Former India coach Ravi Shastri uttered some golden words in reaction to the Rohit Sharma-led side’s spectacular collapse on an eventful day one of the second and final Test against South Africa on January 3, 2024.
South Africa captain Dean Elgar won the toss and chose to bat first. However, Mohammed Siraj bulldozed them out for just 55 runs with career-best Test figures of 6/15. He was aided by Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar, who took two wickets each.
In response, India had positioned themselves well at 153/4 with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scoring in 30s and Virat Kohli making 46. But then a spectacular and historical collapse happened as India was bowled out for the same score of 153, losing their last six wickets for 0 runs.
This was the first time in the 147-year history of Test cricket that a team had suffered such a collapse in which it lost its last 6 wickets without adding a single run. As the entire world tried to wrap its head around this batting implosion, Ravi Shastri's gem of a remark took the cake.
As the South Africa team was making its way back to the pavilion, Shastri was heard saying on commentary: “If someone went around the corner for a dump, and has come back, India have been bowled out for 153.”
The day ended with South Africa scoring 62/3 in their second innings, trailing India by 36 runs.
