By Chetan NarulaCenturion, Jan 17 (PTI) Indomitable at home, India'sbatsmen capitulated in the face of South Africa's menacingpace attack to suffer a 135-run drubbing in the second Testhere today, ending a nine-series unbeaten run for ViratKohli's world No.1 side.
After the 72-run loss in the opening Test, the margin gotbigger here as the visitors handed the home side a 2-0 lead inthe three-match series.
Rohit Sharma's 47 was the lone noteworthy contribution ina chase of 287, which was a tall ask from the beginning giventhe unpredictable bounce of the pitch. The Indians folded for151 in 50.2 overs, never really offering a fight.
It was a revenge of sorts for Faf du Plessis' side, whichhad been blanked 3-0 by hosts India in 2015.
Debutant Lungi Ngidi was the newest fast-bowling nemesisthat India discovered as he snared six scalps for a mere 39runs in 12.2 overs.
From team selection to shot selection, to running betweenthe wickets to the absence of sheer grit, India were leftpondering quite a few issues at the end of just there secondTest away from the sub-continent in more than a year.
Ngidi became the sixth Proteas' pacer to pick a five-wicket haul in his debut Test after Lance Klusener (8/62 vsIndia in 1996), Charles Langeveldt (5/46 vs England in 2005),Vernon Philander (5/15 vs Australia in 2011), Merchant deLange (7/81 vs Sri Lanka in 2011) and Kyle Abbott (7/29 vsPakistan in 2013).
This was after India, had been reduced to 87/7 at onestage, looking firmly down the barrel.
Starting from overnight 35/3, it was another horrificfirst hour of play for the visitors.
On the 19th ball of the morning, in the 27th over,Cheteshwar Pujara (19) was run out for the second time in thematch. He went for an unnecessary third run and couldn't beatAB de Villiers' throw from the deep, which Quinton de Kockswiftly passed to the stumps.
After his suicidal run-out in the first innings, Pujarabecame the first Indian batsman to be run-out twice in thesame Test.
Three overs later, Parthiv Patel (19) pulled KagisoRabada (3-47) and a flying Morne Morkel took a brilliant catchat the deep square leg boundary.
Hardik Pandya (6) added 18 runs with Rohit (47 runs, 74balls, 6 fours, 1 six). But then played a poor stroke offNgidi in an attempt to lift the ball over slip cordon.
Instead, Pandya was caught behind leaving India at 83/6.
Ten balls later, R Ashwin (3) was caught behind off Ngidiand India's hopes to even salvage a draw lay in tatters.
Mohammed Shami (28 runs, 24 balls, 5 fours) thoughprovided a ray of hope. He put on 54 runs off 61 balls withRohit for the eighth wicket. In doing so, the duo pushed Indiapast 100 in the 39th over.
Just ahead of the scheduled lunch break, in the 48thover, Rohit was caught in the deep off Rabada as the morningsession was extended.
Six balls later, Ngidi then returned to pick up his fifthwicket as Shami's mistimed pull shot was caught at mid-on.
Two overs later, the burly pacer also accounted forJasprit Bumrah (2) and subjected India to an embarrassingloss.
Ishant Sharma (4) was the last man standing for thevisitors, who will have quite a few matters to resolve beforethe third and final Test in Johannesburg, which starts onJanuary 24.
The debacle is Kohli's first as full-time captain eventhough he did well with the bat in this match, scoring 153 inthe first innings. PTI CN PMPM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.