The India-South Africa Johannesburg Test is famously remembered for the dangerous pitch that both teams played on. At one point, it looked like the match could be called off. The dangerous bounce challenged the batsmen and Dean Elgar was hit on the helmet by one of the bouncers from Jasprit Bumrah. Eight years after the famous Test match, Virat Kohli has revealed an unheard tale. The former India captain said that he was against calling off the game. Faf du Plessis, who was SA’s captain, and the officials wanted the match to be called off due to a dangerous pitch.
SPeaking on the One8 YouTube channel, Kohli termed it the most dangerous pitch he has played on and said: “South Africa, we’re playing in Joburg. Third test. And (Jasprit) Bumrah gets Dean Elgar. He hits him on the head. It was a dangerous pitch, honestly. The most dangerous pitch that I’ve played on. And Bumrah was bowling rapid and he hit him flush on his forehead. And the ball went towards point. (26:39) and this guy was on his backside, sitting on the pitch.”
“So the umpires are like, it’s too dangerous to continue and whatever, we think it should not continue. So they took us all back in. And Faf’s (Faf du Plessis) a great friend now. At that time, he was South African captain. (26:55) And there were two umpires, match referee, Faf and myself. And then they’re all going, it’s dangerous, this, that and the other. So I heard everyone. And Faf was going to get hit. We need all of us to play off. (27:13)
India had lost the first 2 Tests and the series. They bowled out South Africa for 177 and successfully defended the target of 241 to avoid a whitewash. For the record, India haven’t won a Test series in South Africa yet. India dominated SA in the second leg and won the six-match ODI series 5–1. The visitors also won the T20I series 2-1.
Kohli, Du Plessis became teammates in 2022
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis became teammates at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Du Plessis, who joined RCB in the IPL 2022 mega-auction, captained the team in three seasons. They made it to the second round twice under his captaincy. He had replaced Kohli as the captain. Kohli continues to play for RCB while Du Plessis isn’t a part of IPL now.
