India set South Africa a stiff 241-run target to win the third and final cricket Test after scoring 247 in their second innings, which ended during the final session of the third day, here. Ajinkya Rahane was the top-scorer for the visitors with his 48-run knock. The lower-order batsmen Bhuvneshwar Kumar (33) and Mohammed Shami (27) chipped in with useful knocks. South Africa was 17/1, when the match was halted after Dean Elgar got a nasty blow in his head.

The two umpires discussed between themselves and then decided to go off the field. Bumrah's ball which was slightly short off length hit Elgar's helmet and he immediately called for medical attention. However, Indian legend Gavaskar said in the commentary box, that the ball didn't jump off a good length. It was a short ball, and pitched 8.45 metre away from the wicket. Hence it wasn't due to the pitch, but due to Elgar's technique that he got hit in the helmet, opined Gavaskar. He said Bumrah had used his wrist to get a zip, and as the ball is new, it got a decent lift.

Gavaskar also said that if the Indians had declined to play in a similar situation they would have been called 'sissies' by the global cricketing community. Indians would have been called coward for not playing, says Gavaskar. He didn't mince his words and criticised the halt of play. Indian legend said that the match should be played and South Africa has to endure, like Indians negotiated in the middle. South African commentators too supported his views and said Elgar didn't get hit because of the pitch.

If Indias would've been in South Africa's shoes, they would've been called sissies. Despite producing Kohli's, Tendulkar's, Dravid's they would've been called sissies because of the reputation ~ Sunil Gavaskar #SAvIND — salman (@SalmanAnjum94) January 26, 2018

Former West Indian bowling legend Michael Holding rated the pitch 2 out of 100 during his stint in the comm box earlier. He made the comment after a ball hit Vijay awkwardly.

In fact the former West Indies paceman went ahead and felt that some of the batsmen could be seriously hurt as everyone does not have the technique and big heart like Kohli. "I understand Virat Kohli wants to play but not everyone can handle what he can," said Holding.

India are trailing the three-match series 0-2.