IND vs SA: After a disappointing performance in the first Test, the situation for India just got worse, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) docked them two crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points and slapped a 10% fine on each players match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. This comes after a crushing innings and 32-run defeat in the first Test. The defeat against Protese men pushed India to the fifth spot in the WTC points table. 🚨 JUST IN: India have been penalised for slow over rate during the first #WTC25 Test against South Africa.Details ⬇️https://t.co/dSqixki92Z— ICC (@ICC) December 29, 2023The penalty stems from falling two overs short of the target during the match, which is a clear violation of ICC regulations. India skipper Rohit Sharma promptly admitted the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, avoiding a formal hearing. However, this couldnt mitigate the impact on Indias WTC standing.What are the rules for slow overrateAccording to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which addresses the minimum over-rate offences, the players are fined 5% of their match fee for every over if their team fails to bowl in the allocated time.The deducted points send India tumbling down the table as the gap between India and Australia widens.Indias disappointing performance in first TestCompounding the off-field disappointment, India were outplayed by the South Africans in all departments in Centurion. After KL Rahuls brilliant ton, Men in Blue failed to scalp wickets at regular intervals. South Africa started to widen the gap between runs. Dean Elgar scored 185 and Marco Jansen scored a career-best 84* to take the hosts to 408 in their first innings. However, India skipper Rohit admitted that it was not a 400+ wicket and that is where the game slipped away from India.Kohlis 76 runs knock was a lone bright spot in Indias second-innings collapse, where they were bundled out for a mere 131 within 34.1 overs. The pace attack, barring Jasprit Bumrah, failed to scalp wickets, leaving the team management with plenty to ponder before the New Years Test in Cape Town.Indias hope to win a test series on South African turf was shattered by the loss in Centurian, all they can do is to level the series. The slow-over-rate penalty adds another layer of frustration to Indias South African sojourn, raising serious questions about their performance in the final phase of the WTC cycle.
