India vs South Africa: Five records broken during the First Test at Visakhapatnam

In the first Test vs South Africa at Visakhapatnam, India had to go through a hard grind before securing another Test win at their home soil. This was India’s 29th Test victory under skipper Kohli as they beat the Proteas by 203 runs in the first Test. 

Despite posting a huge first-innings total, the visitors were decimated on the last morning of the Test match, witnessing a quick batting collapse in no time. India were always in the driver’s seat after some terrific knocks by the openers in both the innings, which laid a solid platform. Indian spinners once again delivered with seamers also chipping in with useful contributions in the match. 

Along the way, there were quite a few records broken in the first Test. Here’s a look at five such records broken during the Test match: 

Ravichandran Ashwin becomes joint-fastest to 350 wickets

Coming into the Test, Ashwin was on the cusp of another landmark in his glorious Test career. With 342 Test wickets, he needed only 8 wickets to become the joint-fastest bowler in Test cricket to claim 350 wickets. He did exactly that and returned with an 8-for in the Vizag Test. In 66 Tests, he now joins Muttiah Muralitharan as the two fastest bowlers to claim this historic landmark. 

Ravidra Jadeja becomes fastest left-armer to claim 200 wickets

Jadeja was also nearing a landmark of becoming the fastest to 200 Test wickets for any left-arm bowler. He took two wickets in the first innings to add to his previous tally of 198 and became the fastest to reach this milestone. He achieved the feat in 44 Test matches, going past Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath who did it in 47 games. 

Rohit scores most runs for a debut opener in a Test match

With his twin centuries in the match, 'Hitman' registered most runs for any opener in his maiden appearance at the top of the order. He scored 303 runs in total courtesy 176 and 127 in the first and the second innings of the match respectively. 

Most sixes in a Test match

The Vizag Test will also be remembered for most sixes in a Test match. There was a total of 36 hits in the entire game, going past the tally of 35 sixes hit in a match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Sharjah in 2014. 

Most sixes by a batsman in a Test match

Rohit has entered the record books for his 13 glorious sixes in the match. This was the highest number of sixes hit by an individual, overhauling Wasim Akram’s tally of 12 sixes against Zimbabwe.