India’s cricketing history at Cape Town’s Newlands Stadium paints a challenging narrative, with six Tests played and not a single victory achieved. As the second Test against South Africa looms on January 3, India faces an uphill battle to alter this record.
Despite India’s overall struggles in Test series on South African soil, the Newlands Stadium remains a particularly daunting venue. Out of the five Tests played here, India has drawn two and lost three, making it a battleground where success has been elusive. This historic struggle adds an extra layer of complexity as India aims to bounce back from their recent defeat in Centurion.
Analyzing India’s encounters at Newlands:
- 1992: Match Drawn
- Star performer: Javagal Srinath.
- Noteworthy: Srinath’s heroics helped India secure a draw, but time constraints prevented a decisive outcome.
- 1997: Lost by 282 Runs
- Struggle: India faced a daunting target after South Africa’s strong first innings, and despite Tendulkar’s brilliance, they fell short.
- 2007: Lost by 5 Wickets
- Decider: A seesaw battle saw India dominate initially, but a second-innings collapse led to a defeat, denying them a series win.
- 2011: Match Drawn
- Highlight: Jacques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar’s standout performances led to a drawn series, a first for India in South Africa.
- 2018: Lost by 72 Runs
- Opportunity Missed: India had a chance to win, but Vernon Philander’s brilliance saw them fall short in the chase of 207.
- 2022: Lost by 7 Wickets
- Controversy: Kohli’s last match as captain witnessed a bizarre turn, with India unable to defend a target of 212, marked by on-field frustrations.
As India faces the upcoming test at Newlands, it’s not just a battle against South Africa but also a struggle against historical woes at this venue. A victory here would not only break the Newlands jinx but also serve as a morale-boosting triumph before the crucial five-match Test series against England starting on January 25.