Team India wants to complete the Wanderers test match

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Indian team doing a huddle at the start of South Africa’s second innings at Wanderers. Image Source: BCCI

Debasis Sen, Johannesburg: Indian team management on Friday has made it clear that they would like the third and final test match at Wanderers to complete. Chasing a victory target of 241 runs, the hosts are 17/1 when the umpires decided 20 minutes before the end of the day that conditions had become too dangerous to continue.

Proteas opener Dean Elgar had been smashed in the face by a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah that got big on the left-hander, following which the umpires called off the day’s play.

The fourth day’s play will continue on time on Saturday.

“The match referee had called me at tea time just in case the wicket became dangerous and unfit for play. Both captains would then be consulted to take the game forward,” Indian team manager Sunil Subramaniam said after the day’s play.

“We held the view that the wicket has been the same for all three days and today was the day where there were probably the least wickets and the highest strike rates.

“We’d like to continue playing … that is our view.”

Subramaniam added that the Indians felt the ball that hit Elgar on the grill did nothing special.

“We are of the view that it was a normal ball,” he said.

“There has always been exaggerated bounce on this wicket. It was not a ball that cut enormously, it was a ball that shot up, which has been happening over the last three days.

“Umpires are the final judges of the fitness of the ground, regardless of the views of either captains. The captains will come forward with their views, but the final decision lies with the umpires.”

India were hoeful that the final decision would work in their favour, but regardless of what happens, they have made a serious statement here.

“We have the bowling arsenal to give it back … that was the case,” Subramaniam said.

“It was not a wicket that we prepared and we had to come and play, just like when they come to our country it’s a wicket we prepared. Be prepared to play.”