KL Rahul and Ravichandran Ashwin’s fighting knocks helped India in reaching a respectable total of 202 on a tough surface on Day 1.
This Indian Test unit, already being revered as one of the greatest of all time, has this tendency of producing a sensational performance every once in a while. That gets the entire cricketing universe talking, but they don’t usually follow it up well. Something similar transpired at Wanderers on Monday, with the Indian batters giving a massive task to the bowlers yet again.
The day began with a massive surprise as KL Rahul walked out in a dashing blazer instead of Virat Kohli for the toss. The 33-year-old was ruled out in the final minute due to a back spasm, and the vice-captain took over to become the 34th Indian men’s team captain. Rahul won the toss, chose to bat, and led by example on a day he will never forget.
Mayank Agarwal batted aggressively and took his chances, whilst the stand-in captain restricted himself to an anchor role. It seemed like the Karnataka pair will once again set things up well for the middle order, but that wasn’t to be the case. Youngster Marco Jansen found his outside edge, and the runs dried out instantly.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s trouble stay, which lasted 33 deliveries, came to an end, with Duanne Olivier’s short delivery proving to be too much. Ajinkya Rahane, who walked out to bat at number four, walked back even quicker, managing to edge it to third slip, registering his first-ever golden duck in Tests.
Hanuma Vihari showed some promise in the middle, backing up his sensational form in South Africa. Rahul and Vihari eased the momentum and negated the threat for a little period, adding 42 runs for the fourth wicket. But Rassie van der Dussen took a stunning one-hander to dismiss Vihari to end their partnership, and the Indians started collapsing soon after.
KL Rahul got to his half-century and was dismissed almost immediately by Marco Jansen, Rishabh Pant did not look very comfortable, but he hung in the middle. Indians were staring at a total well under 140 and were rescued by the attacking brilliance of Ravichandran Ashwin. He played his vintage drives, batted at a strike-rate of 92, and added crucial runs against the run of play.
These runs for the Indian side came while wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Rishabh Pant edged it to the keeper, Shardul Thakur quite tamely gave the gully fielder catching practice, whilst Shami went for a half-hearted drive which Rabada collected well in his own bowling. Getting to 200 seemed too much of an ask, but Ashwin got them close.
Just before getting to his fifty, Ashwin was dismissed for a 50-ball 46. Jasprit Bumrah’s three boundaries, which included a six off Rabada over fine-leg, helped the visiting team get past 200. They were bowled out for 202 runs, with Marco Jansen getting four wickets in two consecutive innings. Rabada and Olivier completed three dismissals each.
Indians had a breakthrough in the first two overs of both innings in Centurion, it took them a little longer this time, but they had another early wicket here in Johannesburg as well. Aidam Markram played totally down the wrong line and was exposed in front of the stumps as Shami’s in-swinging delivery wrapped on his pads.
Keegan Petersen once again played some delightful shots in a short little stay before Rishabh Pant dropped him while diving across to his edge. Dean Elgar managed to survive the final hurrah from the Indian bowlers on the day by the barest of margins, and eventually, the day finished on a sombre note for India as Mohammed Siraj walked away after pulling his hamstring.
At stumps, the Proteas got 35 runs for the loss of 1 wicket and the fact that the scoring rate was less than two speaks of how tight the bowlers were on the day. They trail by 167 runs but will walk into the dressing room a little more satisfied than the visiting unit.
Brief scores
India 1st innings: 202 all out in 63.1 overs (KL Rahul 50, Ashwin 46; Jansen 4/31, Olivier 3/64, Rabada 3/64)
South Africa 1st innings: 35/1 in 18 overs
South Africa trail by 167 runs
