RSA VS IND - 3rd Test, India tour of South Africa, 2017-18

Abhishek: Excellent win! The fast bowling has been sensational and all together India look a new team with that added dimension .May be the first time India have gobbled up all the wickets in a series and the majority of them shared by the pacers. More good test cricket to follow in England!

VSD: This is best proof that Test match cricket is best among all formats. Only real cricket lovers can feel it

Harsha Bhogle: Wow, this is Test cricket. Always gives you a second chance. Tests you in a myriad ways.

The Freedom Trophy has been handed over to du Plessis and his mates join him. They appear delighted and rightly so, having beaten the top ranked Test team in a series. It was a well-fought series and we got to witness some high quality cricket. In the end, there couldn't have been a better scoreline than 2-1 because both sides had their moments but the Proteas obviously prevailed in most of the crucial passages. This sets it up nicely for the limited-overs leg between the two teams that starts on 1st February. Should be more entertainment for sure. Hope you enjoyed all our coverage of this series. We certainly enjoyed bringing it to you. This is Hariprasad Sadanandan signing off on behalf of my mates Srivathsa, MS Ramakrishnan, Pratyush Sinha and our scorer Vinod. Cheers!

- This is the first instance of Indian pacers taking all 20 wickets in a Test.

Where does this overseas win rank for India then? You can draw a lot of parallel with that win at Headingley in 2002. An unproven side, a passionate captain and a contentious call to bat first in tough conditions. And India won thumpingly both times. India's spinners came to the fore then, they had none here but that's a function of the times we live in. Compare that to Perth 2007, when India won on the back of some vitriol. A racial slur accusation there, an exaggeration of home advantage here, so much so that Johannesburg was almost a 'dangerous' pitch to bat on. Adelaide 2003 was built on Dravid's sweat, much like Pujara's here, albeit for many fewer runs to show. And Durban 2010 was done against a top-notch pace attack, much akin to what South Africa are in the process of assembling. What's your favourite?

Du Plessis - captain, SA: "I think India outplayed us in this Test. We didn't take our chances. We were just sloppy. From bowling point of view, we weren't consistent as the previous Tests. From a fielding point of view, we were just average compared to Centurion. India were the better team. It was a surprise how the surface played this morning. Once we got through that, Elgar and Hashim (had a) great partnership together. But the wicket tells you that the bowlers tend to do a bit more. We were disappointed to lose the series. If you asked me 2-1 before the series, I'd have taken it hands down. India is a fantastic side. We played very good cricket throughout the series and are the deserved series winners and I am very proud of my team. There's a lot of limited-overs cricket against a very good Indian side and then we have the Australia series."

Philander - Player of the Series: "We got good wickets (to bowl). I think you have to step up at crucial times (with the bat). Would have been a nice one to win my 50th Test but you always take it. India played better cricket and deserved to win. Probably will take a week's break, then back onto training with the Cobras and prepare for a tough series coming up against Australia."

Bhuvneshwar - Player of the Match: "I'm happy (with my performance). Whenever I get a chance, I try to do well. It came at the right moment. I always enjoy batting when it comes to Tests. It wasn't a wicket for the batsmen but I tried to stay for as much as possible and runs came at the same time. Amazing track to bowl on. Few awkward balls but overall it was a good wicket and we just wanted to bowl in good areas, and then it wasn't easy for the batsmen."

Kohli - captain, India: "We required some character on a pitch that was very difficult to play on but our guys showed great guts and determination throughout the few days. We took the challenge head-on. Batting first didn't go down well with a lot of people but we knew that it'll get difficult to bat on later. Hats off to the team for showing character after the series was gone. We knew we were close in the first two games. It's a funny game. You think of many ways to get a batsmen out. Amla and Elgar played well. They got stuck in and you expect that from a side like South Africa. In pressure situations, when wickets go down in Test cricket, it's very difficult to come back. The bowlers were the biggest positive to come out of the series; we haven't taken 60 wickets in the past. If the batsmen step up, we can do well away from home. We want to correct certain mistakes with the bat. That lower-order showed character. This win feels really great. You need confident bowlers to win Test matches. As batsmen, if we can think about countering conditions more, prepare better, and take our catches, I'm sure we can do well away from home."

The target of 241 was always going to be tough for South Africa but the earlier half of play yesterday due to unsafe surface seemed to have come as a blessing in disguise for the hosts. The overnight rains and the rollers ensured that the surface today wasn't as deadly, although there was still help in it. The Indian bowlers also found their radar late but in the end, they had too many runs on the board. Ishant was outstanding and along with Bumrah deserves the credit for the fightback. Shami's spell redeemed himself because he had been disappointing until then. A superb end to what has been a keenly contested Test series. South Africa have won it 2-1 and the scoreline does reflect the tussle that it was.

It didn't start well for the visitors though. Kohli's decision to bat first was challenged on a green top that had extravagant bounce along with movement. However, Kohli's fifty along with Pujara's dogged knock gave India a total of 187 which seemed decent, albeit not threatening at that point. India's pacers led by a 5-fer from Bumrah ensured that the score was intimidating enough and reduced SA's lead to a slender 7 runs. At that point, it was a one-innings shootout on a threatening pitch. Kohli once again rose to the challenge, this time with Rahane for company as the Protea attack was blunted. The SA pacers started to feel the pressure and dropped catches didn't help their cause also.

Harsha Bhogle: One of the finest Indian wins overseas. Will go down with Melbourne, Leeds, Perth. Have seen wins fashioned by spin. This the first from a pace quartet. Something to savour.

17:13 Local Time, 15:13 GMT, 20:43 IST: Kohli is pumped! He is jumping around, gesturing wildly and why wouldn't he! Bows down to the crowd. Exceptional win for the Indians. More remarkable when you consider the comeback they made today after the brilliant stand between Elgar and Amla. The duo threatened to take it away from India but the latter's wicket followed by that of de Villiers before tea gave India some hope. When the final session started, the game was in the balance but that's when their most off-color pacer came to the party. Shami roared with a 5-fer to blow away the lower order. Ishant and Bumrah had struck once each after tea before Shami took centrestage. Elgar fought hard but eventually, he ran out of partners. Incredible collapse from SA, they lost 9/53!

Shami to Lungi Ngidi, out Caught by (sub)Karthik!! Excellent review and that seals it! Huge roar from the Indian players as they see the umpire's finger going up. Short of a length ball that seamed away just a touch as Ngidi looked to poke at it. It flew through to Karthik who was immediately excited. Egged his skipper to go for the review and UltraEdge confirmed it with a spike. That's the end to the game and India win by 63 runs! They've had a tough time in the series with a lot of criticism and this will relieve them a lot. Lungi Ngidi c (sub)Karthik b Shami 4(6) [4s-1]

Shami to Lungi Ngidi, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

India review for caught behind: Almost a replica of the previous ball but this time India are confident that there was a nick. Karthik appears confident. Let's have a look. Definite noise on the replays and UltraEdge confirms it! That's it!

Shami to Lungi Ngidi, no run, mild appeal for caught behind, more of a polite enquiry. Ian Gould denies it and rightly so. Short of a length that seams away a bit with extra bounce, Ngidi fiddled at it without any footwork and got beaten

Shami to Lungi Ngidi, no run, short of a length outside off, extra bounce and Ngidi lets it pass

Bhuvneshwar to Elgar, SIX, terrific shot! Elgar has decided that he will play his shots. He has to, with only no.11 for company and the target a far way away. Fuller ball around off, gets across to that one and plays a pick up stroke over square leg. Middles it superbly to clear the ropes

Bhuvneshwar to Elgar, no run, full and outside off, presses forward and blocks it towards the off-side. Lungi Ngidi wants the single but is sent back

Bhuvneshwar to Elgar, FOUR, deft touch from Elgar, he's battling along valiantly. If only someone had supported him from the lower middle order. This is a good length ball outside off, he waits for it and dabs it with soft hands. Off the outer half of the blade but he was well in control, through the slip cordon and away to the fence

Bhuvneshwar to Elgar, no run, jaffa! Angling in from a length outside off, straightens after pitching as Elgar is squared up on the poke

Bhuvneshwar to Elgar, no run, angling in from a good length, bit wide outside off and Elgar steers it to deep backward point. Denies the single on offer