India, June 14 -- Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram, two of South Africa's Test batting mainstays, added a game-altering partnership of 147 runs for the fourth wicket, which brought the team to the doorstep of victory. But did you know that it almost did not happen? You heard it. The South Africa captain was batting on 6 when the team management thought of retiring him hurt. Bavuma, just two overs before Tea, on Day 3 of the World Test Championship, went down with a hamstring injury, one that required long medical intervention on the ground.

Hamstring injuries can be tricky. In the worst-case scenario, if not treated urgently, it can rule a player out for months. With South Africa chasing 283 to win, and Wian Mulder just dismissed, the next...