Ranchi:  India defeated South Africa by innings and 202 runs in the third and final Test match to register their historic maiden 3-0 clean sweep over South Africa, here at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium, this morning. 

Resuming at the overnight score of 132/8, South Africa’s innings lasted just 11 minutes as India bundled the tourists out for 133.  Debutant Shahbaz Nadeem picked up the final two wickets in consecutive balls as India sealed a historic victory. 

Earlier, South Africa were all out for 162 in the first innings after India declared at 497 for 9 in their first innings. Mohammed Shami took three for 10 while Umesh Yadav and Nadeem finished with two wickets each. 

This was also India’s biggest margin of victory in terms of innings against South Africa in tests.  With this victory, India have now won their last five tests along with consolidating their position at the top of the World Test Championship points table with a maximum of 240 points. South Africa, on the other hand, failed to open their World Test Championship account after their first three tests. 

Meanwhile, Kohli surpassed Mohammed Azharuddin to become the India captain to lead the team to most number of series whitewashes in Tests (minimum 3 matches). Azharuddin led India to two series whitewashes under his leadership but Kohli bettered his record with a complete rout of South Africa in the Freedom series.  

Before this, Virat Kohli’s men had whitewashed New Zealand (3-0) in a home series in 2016 and Sri Lanka (3-0) in an away series in 2017. India had whitewashed England (3-0) in 1993 and Sri Lanka (3-0) in 1994, with Azharuddin at the helm in two home series. Under M.S. Dhoni, India managed to whitewash only one opponent that was Australia (4-0) in a home series in 2013.