Former India captain and Board of Control for Cricket in India President, Sourav Ganguly lauded India on their victory over South Africa in the first Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday. Ganguly, who has been hospitalised after testing positive for Covid-19, said he was not surprised by the dominance that Virat Kohli-led Test team displayed in the Test series opener.

Virat Kohli became the first Asian captain to win a Test in Centurion as India hammered South Africa by 113 runs in the Boxing Day Test despite rain washing out a full day’s play. KL Rahul’s first-innings hundred and a fiery spell from the pace bowling unit led by Mohammed Shami helped India clinch a rare series lead in the Rainbow Nation.

Taking to social media, Sourav Ganguly said India will be a tough side to beat from heron in this series, hinting he is expecting a historic series victory from the World No. 1 Test side. Notably, no Indian team in the past has managed to win a Test series in South Africa.

South Africa vs India 1st Test: Report | Highlights

“Great victory for Team India ..not surprised by the result at all…will be a hard team to beat this series..South africa will have to play out of their skins to do that ..enjoy the new year (sic),” Ganguly said in a tweet.

Great victory for Team India ..not surprised by the result at all…will be a hard team to beat this series..South africa will have to play out of their skins to do that ..enjoy the new year @bcci

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) December 30, 2021

South Africa had resumed on 94 for four chasing a venue record 305 for victory but fell well short of their target on a spicy wicket that had plenty of assistance for the bowlers.

Dean Elgar (77) and Temba Bavuma (35 not out) gave them some hope in the morning session but India’s vaunted pace attack used the conditions superbly and eased their side to a comfortable win.

South Africa went along well in the first 10 overs of the day before Elgar was trapped leg before wicket by Bumrah (3-50).

Quinton de Kock took the attack to the bowlers with a breezy 21 from 28 balls, but played onto his own stumps for the second time in the test, on this occasion off Mohammed Siraj (2-47).

It is a shot he will want to forget and he will play no further part in the series as he leaves the squad on paternity leave.

It took India only two overs to take the final three wickets after the lunch interval as spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2-18) finally found a way into the game.

The two teams will meet in the New Year’s Test from January 3 in Johannesburg with the third Test set to start from January 11 in Cape Town.