Team India clinched a historic victory against South Africa in the second and final Test at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, on Thursday, January 4. This achievement marked India’s inaugural win at the venue and set a new record for the shortest Test match in cricket history, lasting only 642 balls.

The touring team made strategic changes to their playing XI for the second Test, bringing in Ravindra Jadeja for Ravichandran Ashwin and Mukesh Kumar for Shardul Thakur. Despite Ashwin not playing, he managed to provide fans with entertai?nment off the field.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s off-field entertainment with Makhaya Ntini

In a viral video on X (formerly Twitter), Ashwin can be seen in a light-hearted conversation with former South African pacer Makhaya Ntini, who was part of the broadcasting team for SuperSport. Ashwin, jokin??gly, asked Ntin?i to say something for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans.

Ntini’s unexpected response left Ashwin rolling in laughter as Ntini sang the famous Bollywood song.

“That’s for the CSK fans you can say hello to them,” said Ashwin to Ntini.

Also WATCH: Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill’s play?ful dance adds fun element to historic India win in Cape Town Test �SA vs IND 2023-24

In response, Ntini starts singing the famous Bollywood song,“Kabhi Kabhi Mere DIl me Khayal Aata Hai”. The way Ntini sang the song, cra?cked up Ashwin as he couldn’t control h?is laughter.

Here is the video:

This was sooo funny!! 😂😂 How many of you enjoyed this sweet little cameo by Makhaya Ntini? 😂@ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/bKX5WdLqca

— Crikipidea (@crikipidea) January 6, 2024

Ashwin in race for ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 2023

In other news, Ashwin finds himself in the race for the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award for 2023. The Chennai-born spinner is the sole Indian cricketer among the four nominees, with the list primarily dominated by Australian stars who secured victory in the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2023. Apart from Ashwin, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Joe Root are in the list.

Ashwin’s exceptional performance in 2023 includes picking up 41 wickets from seven Test matches, with a standout performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he claimed 35 wickets from four matches. This marks Ashwin’s third nomination for the prestigious award, having previously won it in 2016.

Also READ: Top 4 nominees for ICC Test cricketer of?? the year 2023

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa68.com.

Former South African pacer Makhaya Ntini raised concerns about Kagiso Rabada‘s chances of reaching the 400-test wicket mark, despite the bowler’s outstanding performance in the ongoing Centurion Test against India. Rabada, showcasing his prowess, picked 5/44 in 20 overs, playing a pivotal role in restricting the visitors to 245/10. This performance also marked Rabada’s 14th five-wicket haul in Tests, a testament to his exceptional skill.

Kagiso Rabada joins the elite 500 international wickets club

With this feat, Rabada has now joined the esteemed group of bowlers with 500 or more international wickets. He becomes the seventh South African bowler to achieve this milestone. The other Proteas bowlers on this distinguished list include Shaun Pollock (823), Dale Steyn (697), Makhaya Ntini (661), Allan Donald (602), Jacques Kallis (572) and Morne Morkel (535). Among these names, Ntini, one of the seven, has also commended Rabada as? one of the greats in Proteas cricket.

Also READ: SA vs IN?D [Twitter reactions]: KL Rahul’s fifty provides India a hope after Kagiso Rabada’s fifer on Day 1 of Boxing Day Test

Makhaya Ntini express doubts over Rabada’s 400-Test wicket mark

While praising the South African speedster, Ntini also expressed skepticism about Rabada surpassing the 400-test wicket mark. He attributed this uncertainty to the limited number of Test matches South Africa pl??ays in a year. Rabada, currently playing his 61st Test, has 285 wickets at an impress?ive average of 22.10 in the format.

“He is already up there (among greats). When you talk about those guys, when you talk about those bowlers, they have passed the 400-mark and KG (Rabada) is chasing the 300-mark. But we have got a massive problem. You are playing two Test matches a year and what is that? Do you think this guy (Rabada) can hold up till he gets to that milestone,” Ntini was quoted as saying by PTI.

Also READ: Australian ??veteran opener David Warner ide?ntifies potential successor for his Test spot

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa68.com.

The highly anticipated Boxing-Day Test between South Africa and India commenced on December 26 at the Supersport Park in Centurion. The Proteas, winning the toss, elected to bowl first, a decision that proved fruitfu?l as the South African pace battery took control of the opening day proceedings.

Kagiso Rabada sets the tone

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada emerged as the star of the day, leading the South African pace attack with a remarkable 5-wicket haul. Rabada’s brilliance was evident as he claimed five crucial wickets for 44 runs, including the prized scalps of Virat Kohli (38) and Rohit Sharma (5).

Despite the Proteas’ dominance, Indian batter KL Rahul em??erged as the shining light for the visitors. Ending the opening day at 208/8, Rahul remained unbeaten at 70, showcasing resilience? and skill with 10 fours and 2 sixes.

Makhaya Ntini picks a key player of Team India

Considering the performance of South African pacers and the prevailing pitch conditions, it is reasonable for fans to anticipate a strong showing from the Indian fast bowlers. Discussing one of the standout Indian pacers, Makhaya Ntini, the South African cricket legend, provided insights into a player whose skill has become integral to Team India’s foundation.

Ntini named Jasprit Bumrah as the biggest key player for India. Delving into the mechanics of Bumrah’s bowling, Ntini highlighted how the ball’s trajectory is meticulously crafted, generating angles that confound batters. His astute observations focus on a seemingly inconspicuous detail—the release point. Notably, the mastery behind Bumrah’s release becomes a crucial element in understanding the unique skill set that sets him apart.

“Look where Bumrah releases the ball. He releases the ball from the top of his head. So, he gets the angle to bring the ball back in. He can get deliveries to straighten after pitching,” Ntini told PTI.

Also READ: SA vs IND [Twitter reactions] – KL Rahul’s fifty provides India a hope after Kagiso Rabada’s fifer on Day 1 of Boxing Day Test

The magic of Yorkers

What captured Ntini’s admiration is not just Bumrah’s skill but the unwavering consistency in his approach. Bumrah’s bowling action remains a constant, a rhythm that defines reliability, and a precision that leaves spectators in awe. This silent dynamo’s consistent performance becomes a source of both stability and unpredictability, a rare combination in the world of cricket.

Ntini reckoned that among the arsenal of skills possessed by Bumrah, the art of executing yorkers stands out. H??e underlined that these?? deliveries are not sporadic moments of brilliance but a consistent feature.

“I don’t know if he has powerful wrists and action is always the same, that’s how beautiful it is. His yorkers, he doesn’t miss any, those are the things everyone gets to enjoy. India isn’t the team without Bumrah,” added Ntini.

Also WATCH: Kagiso Rabada’s delusional delivery sends Virat Ko??hli packing �SA vs IND 2023-24, 1st Test

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa68.com.

Virat Kohli, India’s illustrious batter, has experienced a resurgence in his form, consistently amassing runs this year. He’s notched up two centuries in both Test and ODI formats, and he’s been a standout performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), registering a couple of centuries.

As the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 approaches, scheduled in India from October 5 to November 19, Kohli’s role in India’s campaign will be pivotal. The 34-year-old has already demonstrated his prowess as the highest run-scorer in the 2022 T20 World Cup, boasting an impressive record of 296 runs in six matches, with an average of 98.67 and a strike rate of 136.41.

Now an intriguing perspective emerged from former South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, who recently shared his unique approach to dealing with Kohli?? on the field.

Also READ: West Indies legend Viv Richards predicts the leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup 2023

Initiating conversations with Kohli at the crease benefits his game

During an interview on Revsportz’s show “Backstage with Boria,” the former South African speedster emphasized that bowlers should steer clear of sledging Kohli, as doing so often backfires. He underlined that engaging Kohli in conversation while he’s at the crease plays into his hands, and his counsel to fellow bowlers is simply to leave him be.

“Don’t sledge Virat Kohli. Any bowler who sledges him will have to pay the price. If you don’t sledge and just let him be, he could get bored and make a mistake,” Ntini said.

“Let me tell you something about Virat Kohli, something I will tell every South African bowler who will bowl to him. Don’t say a word to him when he is batting. I repeat, don’t sledge him by saying anything to him. If you do so you are actually playing into his hands. He wants the sledge if you know him. He wants the combat and loves such things. If you do so, you are actually giving in to what he wants and it will only make him that much more determined and he will make you pay. Rather, just keep silent against him,” the 46-year-old added.

Opposition Bowlers and Fielders choose to stay silent around Kohli

In a rather ?intriguing observation, the South African stalwart even suggested that if the opposition bowlers and field?ers refrain from talking to Kohli, he might grow disinterested and potentially lose focus, resulting in a swift exit.

“When he sees a bowler not say things, he will get bored. He needs action in the middle to be at his best. When he doesn’t get it, he will find it boring and that’s when he can make a mistake. With players like him you need to be smart and not do the things that you will do with other batters. So when you bowl to him try and stay silent and make him feel bored. That’s your best chance of getting him out,” Ntini concluded.

Notably, Kohli was given a well-deserved rest during the T20I series against West Indies and Ireland to manage his workload. The batting maestro will make his eagerly awaited return during the ongoing Asia Cup 2023.

Also READ: Virat Kohli offers insights into coping with the surging ODI World Cup 2023 expectations

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa68.com.

West Indies legend Michael Holding has praised former South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini for achieving huge success despite facing discrimination in the team. In his latest book ‘Why We Kneel, How We Rise’ â€?which shares the stories of several athletes and their experiences of racism â€?Holding revealed the treatment Ntini dealt with throughout his career.

Notably, Ntini was South Africa’s first black African international cricketer. He ended his decade-long career as the third-highest wicket-taker for Proteas in Test cricket. The right-arm speedster claimed 390 wickets at an average of 28.82.

While speaking at Cricket South Africa’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings, Holding recounted some of the stories that Ntini had told him of being treated differently as if he didn’t belong to the group.

“We all know he was extremely fit. We all know the stories of him running to the ground. A lot of people thought it was part of his training regime. When he spoke to me, he explained to me the reason that he ran to the ground and did not take the bus. Because when he went on the bus, he felt as though he did not belong because he was treated as though he did not belong,” said Holding as quoted by Mirror.co.uk.

Holding went on to laud Ntini for suffering all the discrimination and still showing the tough character to remain a dedicated se??rver of South African cricket.

“Makhaya Ntini suffered all that. I am thankful to him to bear it out and still be so successful. That shows the strength of character of the man. Hopefully, people will recognize, even those who did things like that perhaps did not recognize the hurt and the harm they were doing, and the attitude that they had wasn’t right, hopefully, they will all learn and recognize their faults and their mistakes, and they will be willing to learn and willing to change,” Holding added.

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa68.com.

The South African cricket team has always been renowned for producing an e??lite class of fast bowlers namely, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini.

Ntini went on to play over 100 Tests, 173 ODIs and 10 T20I with his outward unorthodox ?action. The fast bow?ler went on to clinch as many as 390 wickets with the red ball and 272 with the white-ball.

However, the fast bowler perhaps didn’t receive a greater cheer for any of his wickets in comparison to when he took a single to the third man, during the historic 434-game in Johannesburg against Australia in 2006.

Ntini joined Mark Boucher as the last men standing in the final over, chasing the highe?st total ever in the history of ODI cricket.

Ntini, keeping his calm, took the single and returned the strike to Boucher, who hit the winning runs in the match. Now, the ex-Protea bowler has named Brian Lara as the toughest batsman he bowled to?? in his career.

“Facing Australia in Australia and India in India has always been tough. But when it comes to bowling at the toughest batsman, Lara was just too much,” Ntini told Pommie Mbangwa on Instagram Live Chat on Friday.

“He was one of those guys whom you just couldn’t wake up and bowl to. You needed to do your homework 110 per cent,” he added.

Lara and Ntini’s duel was one of the fascinating ones during the by-gone era, whenever the West Indies clashed against South Africa.

In fact, in 10 Test matches, Ntini went on to pick 52 wickets at an exceptional average of 23. Furt??her, Ntini reminisced his sensational?? spell to Lara during the Trinidad test match in 2001.

Ntini tagged his spell at Port of Spain as his best inter?national spell in his gli??ttering career. The Cape-Towner called it quits from the highest level in 2011.

“My best has to be against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago at Lara’s home. I took his wicket twice in the same game. I was over the moonâ€?it was that special,” Ntini concluded.

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa68.com.

By now, it is a well-established phenomeno?n that cricket? is a game of partnerships. These can be partnerships between batsmen, bowlers and even between bowlers and fielders.

But one of the lesser-known yet pivotal partnerships is that of a captain and the strike bowler. Whenever a captain is under the p??ump, he or she looks up to his bowler to get breakthroughs.

However, some of the bowlers have absolutely thrived under the captaincy of specific personnel. This is partially due to the space provided ?by captains to bowlers, giving freedom of setting plans and field. Today, let’s have look at the top five wicket-takers under a specific captain.

5. Muttiah Muralitharan �230 wickets under Sanath Jayasuriya

For many years, Muttiah Muralitharan was Sanath Jayasur?iya’s strike-bowler in the du?sty pitches of Sri Lanka.

Murali, who is the leading wicket-taker in all internationals, has scalped 230 ??wickets under the ??influential captaincy of Sanath Jayasuriya, with a bowling average of 20.22.

This is the fifth most in th??e list of most wickets under a specific?? captain.

4. Craig McDermott �231 wickets under Allan Border

McDermott flourished under the captaincy of Allan Border claiming 231 scalps, at an average of 28.97. The Queenslander’s tally is the fourth most in the charts of most wickets u?nder a captain.

3. Ravichandran Ashwin �242 wickets under Virat Kohli

Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, Ashwin has picked up 242 wickets a??cross all-formats, at an impressive average of 23.7.

Most of these dismissals have come during Test matches in India, where Ashwin, more often than not, has be?en on a wicket-t??aking spree. The Test specialist’s tally is the third most in the list.

2. Makhaya Ntini �280 wickets under Graeme Smith

Under the talismanic captaincy of Graeme Smith, the South African pacer ?has picked up 280 wickets across all formats,? second-most in the list.

1. Dale Steyn �347 wickets under Graeme Smith

Smith knew exactly how to marshall his troops with the likes of Dale Steyn and Ntini topping the charts of the list as mention?ed earlier. Steyn picked up 347 wickets at an average of 22.73 across all format?s under Smith. Thereby forging the best partnership between a captain and strike bowler.

The reason why Smith is highly rated as captain is due to his tendency to make his players perform out of their skins at home as??? well as tours abroad.

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa68.com.