STUMPS DAY 1 - SOUTH AFRICA 35/1 (18 OVERS); INDIA 202 (63.1 OVERS)
SA finish the day on 35/1. Could have been two had Pant held on to Petersen's catch. Wasn't to be. Siraj walked off with what seemed like a hamstring issue. That will worry India and KL Rahul, who may have to alter his plans if Siraj is unable to bowl tomorrow. That will be all from our side. Thanks and good night.
- STUMPS -
Bumrah to bowl the last over. Petersen on strike. Ends with a maiden. Petersen and Elgar see off a testing spell of fast bowling from Siraj and Bumrah.
SA 35/1 in 17 overs: Siraj is in the middle of a testing spell. But Elgar has somehow survived this little burst. Can Indian snare one more before stumps? Siraj pulls up in his follow-through and straightaway holds his hamstring. Doesn't look good - he walks off the field with the physio. Thakur completes the over.
SA 35/1 in 16 overs: Bumrah. Petersen plays out a maiden. Six dots on the trot.
SA 35/1 in 15 overs: Siraj to Elgar. Begins with a gem of a ball - Elgar plays and misses. Another play and a miss. What an over - tested Elgar's defence with each of the six deliveries, unlucky to not find an edge, really. Top stuff.
SA 35/1 in 14 overs: Bumrah is back into the attack. Petersen on strike. DROPPED! Pant drops one behind the stumps, Petersen collects a couple. The thick outside edge flies to the right of Pant, who went one-handed and grassed it.
SA 33/1 in 13 overs: Here's Siraj. Short ball and Elgar pulls it away for four. Just a boundary from that over.
SA 29/1 in 12 overs: The extra half hour begins. Shami to Elgar, no run. Three dots later, a single to Elgar. Just one off the over.
SA 28/1 in 11 overs: Siraj replaces Bumrah. Wide outside off first up and Petersen leaves it alone. This one is angled into off stump on a length and Petersen taps it on the off. Slight movement away from off stump as Siraj pitches it fuller this time. Petersen looks comfortable in his defence as Siraj keeps it much straighter on the stumps to end the over.
SA 28/1 in 10 overs: Shami continues. Full on the off and Petersen dabs at cover for a single. Some extra bounce on this one and it gets Elgar's outside edge and reaches gully on the bounce. Desperate appeal for caught behind from Pant but Shami wasn't interested. It moved away from Elgar from a length and beat his outside edge. There was a noise but ultraedge confirms there was no edge.
SA 27/1 in 9 overs: Length around leg to Elgar and he gets a slight leading edge as he looks to turn it away on the on side. Bouncer to Elgar and he ducks under it with ease - its been given a wide.
SA 26/1 in 8 overs: FOUR! Length outside off from Shami and some extra bounce and the ball runs away past gully off the shoulder of Petersen's bat. FOUR! Half-volley and Petersen strides forward to caress it to the long on boundary.
SA 18/1 in 7 overs: Bumrah continues probing Petersen in the channel. Driven on the full by Petersen for three runs and he gets off the mark. Bumrah is on target to Elgar from round the wicket.
SA 15/1 in 6 overs: Shami from the other end from round the wicket to Elgar. He gets a couple of balls to jag back into Elgar from far outside off and he is beaten comprehensively. Straightens his line a bit and Elgar taps it on the off side. This one nips back from a length and almost takes Elgar's outside edge as he hangs his bat. This one nips back in too much and gets Elgar pad outside leg. Maiden over for Shami.
SA 15/1 in 5 overs: Bumrah continues to come across Elgar. Beaten! Bumrah comes from wide of the crease and pitches it on off stump and gets it to shape away and beat Elgar's outside edge. This one is down leg and Elgar nudges it for a single at square leg. Stifled appeal as it struck Petersen straight in front but got his inside edge on the way.
SA 14/1 in 4 overs: Loud LBW appeal and given! OUT! Shami strikes and Markram doesn't review. He missed a straight one that skidded onto him from a good length. Aiden Markram lbw b Mohammed Shami 7(12b 1x4 0x6). Well left from new batter Petersen and that's the over.
SA 13/0 in 3 overs: A half-chance for Bumrah there. Elgar pushed it straight and it was just wide of Bumrah's outstretched left-arm on the follow-through and the batters collect three on it. Three more runs for Markram as his defensive shot off the backfoot trickles to long on. Markram leaves one in the channel to end the over.
SA 6/0 in 2 overs: Shami comes round the wicket to Elgar and he will look to angle it into the left-hander. Tails into him from a length and he turns it away to mid on for a single and first run for Elgar. FOUR! Short and Markram pulled it away to the square leg boundary. It took off from the bottom of the bat but there was enough power on it to take it through.
SA 1/0 in 1 over: Bumrah to Elgar from over the wicket. On the stumps to begin with and Elgar taps it back. Some sharp bounce but it is away from the batter on the off and doesn't trouble Elgar too much. A loose one down leg and Elgar tucks it to fine leg for one leg-bye and South Africa opens its account with that. Angled into Markram and it does too much and goes down leg.
INDIA FIRST INNINGS - 202 (63.1 OVERS)
IND 202/10 in 63.1 overs: OUT! Down the leg and Siraj edges it to the keeper trying to flick it behind. Mohammed Siraj c Kyle Verreynne b Kagiso Rabada 1(6b 0x4 0x6).
IND 202/9 in 63 overs: Full outside off and Siraj edges it just short of slip on the drive. Siraj pushes a full one on off stump to cover and the batters take one after some hesistation. Good yorker from Jansen and well fended by Bumrah.
IND 201/9 in 62 overs: FOUR! Deft footwork from Bumrah. Pressed forward and flicked a fuller one on middle and leg stump to the square leg boundary. SIX! Bumrah pulls a bouncer over fine leg and over the ropes. FOUR! Bumrah taking Rabada to the cleaners. He missed a yorker this time and Bumrah shovelled it to the mid wicket boundary.
IND 187/9 in 61 overs: Jansen replaces Olivier. Ominous sings for India as Ashwin seems to have copped one on his right index finger and is getting some spray on it. There was that extra bounce again this time as Ashwin fended one away from a length outside off. Dropped! Pitched up outside off and Ashwin goes inside out over extra cover and Bavuma drops it at deep extra cover at full stretch. OUT! Ashwin goes next ball. Dragged back his length on middle stump and Ashwin backed away on off and looked to upper cut it to the third man boundary but top edged it straight to Petersen. Ravichandran Ashwin c Keegan Petersen b Marco Jansen 46(50b 6x4 0x6). Siraj is the last man in. Siraj negotiates the last ball of the over.
IND 185/8 in 60 overs: Rabada continues. No-ball and a single to Ashwin. Impressive backfoot defense from Shami against Rabada's short-pitched bowling. OUT! Rabada takes it off his bowling and Shami is gone. Full on the stumps and Shami drives it straight back to the bowler. Mohammed Shami c & b Kagiso Rabada 9(12b 1x4 0x6). Bumrah walks to the crease. He is greeted by a nasty bouncer that almost takes Bumrah's nose off as he curves his head away from the line of the ball.
IND 183/7 in 59 overs: FOUR! Ashwin is in no mood to hold back. This one is full on off stump from Olivier and Ashwin lifts it straight to the long on boundary. Ashwin pulls away for a single. FOUR! Short and Shami responds with a gutsy upper cut that runs away to the third man boundary. Short and wide again and Shami steers it at point for a couple as Rabada has to dive at the boundary to keep it to three runs.
IND 170/7 in 58 overs: Rabada replaces Jansen. FOUR! Exquisite shot from Ashwin and perfect timing and placement. Overpitched on middle and Ashwin plays a flourish and wristy on-drive to sails over the mid on fielder and to the boundary. A single and Ashwin keeps the strike.
IND 164/7 in 57 overs: Solid defence from Ashwin and he flicks one off the last ball for a couple. Olivier seems to be struggling with two balls to go in the over as he clutches his stomach. Probably won't be bowling for some time after this over.
IND 162/7 in 56 overs: Good aggression by Ashwin as he lofts a straight one and full one from Jansen over the bowler's head and steals three runs. Good comeback from Jansen as he gets Shami's inside edge on a leaden-footed defensive shot. Shami chases a short and wide one outside off and misses. Full outside off and Shami steers it past covers with an open face for a couple.
IND 157/7 in 55 overs: Olivier is on the money to Ashwin. Keeps it on the stump and doesn't overpitch. Pulled away and it reaches backward square leg on the bounce and just one run. It didn't go the distance as it went off the splice of the bat. Just short! Full outside off and Thakur drives uppish and almost chips it to mid off. OUT! He is gone this time. A horrible shot as he looked to lean back and cut it over gully. He didn't get the elevation and handed it straight to Petersen. Third wicket for Olivier. Shardul Thakur c Keegan Petersen b Duanne Olivier 0(5b 0x4 0x6).
IND 156/6 in 54 overs: Jansen comes round the wicket to Ashwin. Full outside off and glorious driven by Ashwin but straight to extra cover. A single for Ashwin with a flick to square leg. OUT! Pant edges it behind to the keeper. Angled in slightly from an off stump line and Pant hung his bat and inside edged it to the keeper's right. Good take behind the stumps. Rishabh Pant c Kyle Verreynne b Marco Jansen 17(43b 1x4 0x6). Extra bounce to Thakur straightaway as it rises and hits him on the splice.
IND 155/2 in 53 overs: FOUR BYES! Loose ball by Olivier down the leg and it misses everything before trickling away to the boundary behind. Back of length on leg and Ashwin pulls it fine for a single. Quickly corrects his line and keeps it in the channel to Pant who is happy shouldering arms. Quite an uncharacteristic innings from Pant so far, with 17 runs from 41 balls.
IND 150/5 in 52 overs: Jansen will resume proceedings with Pant on strike. There is a substantial cloud cover and it is unlikely that we will have a full day's of play. Jansen keeps it in the channel. The third one misses Pant's off stump by a whisker as he lets it through. Away movement for Jansen but this one is pitched wide outside off. Short and veers on leg as Pant swivels and pulls away to square leg. Rabada puts in a good dive to parry it back in and keeps it to two runs. Pant collects anothe couple past point to end the over.
- START OF FINAL SESSION -
TEA BREAK DAY 1 - INDIA 146/5 (51 OVERS)
SESSION RECAP: 93 runs in the 25 overs that were bowled in that session. India lost two wickets including that of skipper KL Rahul, who struck a well-crafted fifty. Ashwin and Pant are at the crease. Ashwin has looked to be proactive and Pant is showing signs of breaking free. Back with the final session at 6:30.
Keshav Maharaj into the attack. Slip in place for Ashwin. Next ball, Ashwin drives for a couple. Ashwin drives the last ball before tea handsomely through covers for four more.
INDIA 140/5 in 50 overs: Jansen. Four dots later, Ashwin plays a half-pull through midwicket for a couple. Single to finish. Jansen had overstepped. So he will have to bowl that again. 4 byes off the last ball.
INDIA 132/5 in 49 overs: Ngidi bowls a maiden. Pant showing signs of aggression in that over - stepping out on a couple of occasions. He is standing outside the crease to negate the movement.
INDIA 132/5 in 48 overs: Jansen . Ashwin gets a thick outside edge that flies through gully for four. Crucial runs for India. Five from that over.
INDIA 127/5 in 47 overs: Ngidi to Ashwin - beautiful on drive for four. Ashwin gets a couple off the fourth ball. Ashwin ends the over with a delightful cover drive for four. Just leaned onto that shot.
INDIA 117/5 in 46 overs: Here's Jansen. Rahul on strike. Rahul keenly watches the first ball go through to the keeper. GONE! Rahul perishes thanks to a brilliant catch by Rabada. Short ball proves to be Rahul's undoing. That's a huge wicket. Ashwin joins Pant. Single to Ashwin off the last ball.
INDIA 116/4 in 45 overs: Double change - Ngidi is back into the attack. Rahul one shy of fifty. He gets there with a single. Excellent knock from KL - stepping up when his team needed him. Has shown great application and restraint. Pant plays out three dots.
INDIA 115/4 in 44 overs: Jansen replaces Olivier. Pant chases a wide ball, drives it through covers for a couple. Five dots follow.
INDIA 113/4 in 43 overs: Rabada to Rahul, no ball. Rabada's no-ball issue continues. Two dots follow before Rabada errs in line again - a bouncer down leg side and Rahul swivels a pull to the fine leg fence. Dot to finish.
INDIA 108/4 in 42 overs: Olivier to Rahul, a couple off the first ball. Single off the next gets Pant back on strike. The left-hander clips one through mid-wicket for a copuple. Couple of dots to finish.
INDIA 103/4 in 41 overs: Pant works one down the ground for a couple, gets off the mark. Next ball is driven nicely through cover by Pant for a couple. Pant on the charge - slaps one through extra cover for four. Rabada was grimacing towards the end of his run-up earlier in the over.
INDIA 95/4 in 40 overs: Olivier continues. Rahul rides the bounce and punches it off the backfoot through cover for four. Rahul has been terrific in this series - his ability to leave the ball has stood him in good stead. Just a boundary off the over.
INDIA 91/4 in 39 overs: Rabada to Rahul, dot and a single. GONE! Forward short leg comes into play - van der Dussen grabs a one-handed stunner and Vihari has to depart. The extra bounce on that occasion did the trick. But credit to Rassie. Pant on strike. Just when Rahul and Vihari were starting to build a strong partnership, SA have struck. Pant happy to shoulder arms to the next two balls.
INDIA 90/3 in 38 overs: Olivier. Vihari ducks under the first ball, which is a bumper. Next ball, Vihari tries to play away from his body and nearly chops on. Better defence next ball. The fourth ball is short and wide, Vihari flays it over point for four. Poor ball. Vihari getting on top of the bounce and meting out the due punishment. Four off the over.
INDIA 86/3 in 37 overs: KG. Starts with a bumper. Rahul happy to duck under it. It's been called a no ball. Next is a length ball, outside off and left alone by KL. KG overpitches and Rahul dismisses it with a glorious cover drive for four. Rahul gets a couple off the fifth with a controlled pull. Dot to finish.
INDIA 79/3 in 36 overs: Double change. Olivier back into the attack. Three slips and a gully for KL. Olivier looking for swing but ends up dishing a leg stump half-volley, which is flicked away for four by KL. Next ball, Rahul looks to punch but gets an inside edge - was in no position to play that shot. Olivier follows it up with a well-directed bouncer, which is pulled away by Rahul expertly for a single. Single to Vihari next ball. Rahul retains strike with a single next ball.
INDIA 72/3 in 35 overs: Rabada replaces Jansen. Rahul gets a single to mid-wicket. Vihari defends the next ball back to KG. His defensive game has been top notch today. Knowing well there is a forward short leg in place, Vihari plays a length ball with soft hands. Just one from the over.
INDIA 71/3 in 34 overs: Ngidi continues. Rahul has faced 95 balls for his 24. Test of patience and skill for these two batters on a Jo'burg wicket that has had enough spice to keep the bowlers interested. Meanwhile, after three dots, Vihari plays a delectable on drive for four. A half-volley from Ngidi and duly punished. There was a change of bat for Vihari midway through this over. Dot to finish.
INDIA 67/3 in 33 overs: Jansen goes short from round the wicket and an outside edge off Rahul's bat flies over the slip for four. Edgy start to the second session for these two. Five dots follow.
INDIA 63/3 in 32 overs: Ngidi to Rahul, single to backward square. Vihari defends the next ball back to the bowler. DROPPED AT POINT! Bavuma drops a tough chance of Vihari. That should have been taken. Instead, Vihari collects two square of the wicket. Three from the over.
INDIA 60/3 in 31 overs: Jansen continues. He continues to rack up maidens from his end. Vihari happy to see off another quiet over.
INDIA 60/3 in 30 overs: SHOT! Vihari breaks the streak with a drive down the ground. Lungi going full, looking to draw Vihari forward and the right-hander is up to the task. Good cricket all around. A single to Vihari off the fourth ball. 2 leg byes off the last ball. The ball clips Rahul's thigh pad and nearly reaches the fine-leg fence before Ngidi's sliding save keeps the batters down to two.
INDIA 53/3 in 29 overs: Jansen is working up some serious pace. The extra bounce is not making things easier for the batters- KL Rahul, who is watching the ball so well, is forced to take evasive action off the third delivery as a short ball hurries onto him. Six dots - and 18 on the trot now.
INDIA 53/3 in 28 overs: Here's Ngidi. Vihari on strike. He has defended well on the front foot thus far - this is Vihari's first Test since his heroics at Sydney last year, where, against a tough, tough attack, he saved the Test - in the company of R. Ashwin - despite being hamstrung. Another maiden.
INDIA 53/3 in 27 overs: Rahul on strike. Jansen starts after lunch. Three slips, gully and a slightly deep short leg in place. The South African quicks have extracted extra bounce from this surface. Rahul, meanwhile, has been resolute in defence. Tidy start after lunch. Maiden.
- START OF SECOND SESSION -
LUNCH DAY 1 - INDIA 53/3 (26 OVERS)
SESSION RECAP: Duanne Olivier struck twice in two balls to steal the first session for South Africa after openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal laid a strong foundation for the visitor. The session was a story of two halves, with Marco Jansen removing Mayank off the first ball after the Drinks break. Pujara and Rahul dug in as the runs dried up and Olivier broke the resistance with some extra bounce off the surface that foxed Pujara. Rahane perished on the following ball, poking at a nothing delivery outside off to leave India on the backfoot at the end of the morning session. KL Rahul, leading from the front after Virat Kohli was ruled out of the match, is unbeaten for his 74-ball 19 while Hanuma Vihari is on 4 off 12 balls.
IND 53/3 in 26 overs: Olivier to continue. Keeps up with the nagging line in the channel. Vihari doesn't oblige though and lets it through after playing at the first one. Stifled appeal for LBW and turned down. But Elgar goes up after some deliberation with his players. Pitched on middle stump and angled into Vihari to hit him flush on the bottom of the front pad. But replay shows a clear spike as the ball passed Vihari's bat. SA loses its second review. Yorker length on leg stump and whipped away by Vihari towards mid wicket for a single and that will be Lunch.
IND 51/3 in 25 overs: Rabada from the other end. Sprays on the leg side and Vihari misses the flick. Fuller outside off and Vihari leaned into the front foot defence with confidence. On the pads again and an easy single for Vihari with a flick to square leg. Length and tailing into KL who fends it off the backfoot.
IND 50/3 in 24 overs: OUT! Pujara beaten for the bounce again and this time he is not lucky enough to get away. He leaned in to defend on the off but it climbed onto him from a length and flew off the splice of the bat to point. Cheteshwar Pujara c Temba Bavuma b Duanne Olivier 3(33b 0x4 0x6). OUT! Two in two for Olivier! Rahane was deceived by the angle and played one that was pitched outside off. Poked at it and edged it to gully. Ajnkya Rahane c Keegan Petersen b Duanne Olivier 0(1b 0x4 0x6). India in trouble. Hanuma Vihari is the next man in. Hat-trick ball. Good ball again with some spicy bounce and Vihari does well to keep it down. Vihari off the mark with a single to short fine.
IND 49/1 in 23 overs: FOUR! Length from Rabada but on the pads and KL flicks it behind to the fine leg boundary. A probing over from Rabada. Nips one into KL who gets an unintended inside edge into the leg side. Gets one to tail into him next ball, beating him for an unsuccessful LBW appeal.
IND 45/1 in 22 overs: FOUR! Finally Rahul breaks loose! Full on middle stump and he works it away to the long on boundary with some great timing. Short on leg and KL pulls it away behind square but just gets one. Olivier angles it into Pujara, who defends on the front-foot with confidence.
IND 40/1 in 21 overs: Starts off with a wayward line outside leg. Correct his line, keeping it in the channel area. Ends the over with a straight one that Pujara defends with a very straight bat.
Rabada back into the attack.
IND 40/1 in 20 overs: Bouncer into Pujara and he is almost gloves it to short leg. It rose into him quite unexpectedly and got his gloves as he looked to fend it.
IND 39/1 in 19 overs: Jansen gets one to nip into Pujara from a middle stump line and he turns it down fine leg with an awkward backfoot hop for a single. Another bouncer flies way over Pujara's head and that's the over.
IND 38/1 in 18 overs: Length on middle and off and KL defends toward short leg. A beauty! Absolute ripper from Olivier. It jagged back menacingly from a short length and climbled into KL who moved his wrists away in the nick of time to avoid gloving it behind. He sure got a whiff of the ball too! He pushes off the backfoot to cover to fend off Olivier's back of length delieveries. Another maiden and suddenly the runs have dried up.
Olivier replaces Ngidi.
IND 38/1 in 17 overs: Jansen continues. Ngidi has walked off the field. Jansen got the ball to angle into Pujara from across on a length outside off, and he leaves it alone. A bouncer that blazes high over Pujara's head to end the over.
IND 38/1 in 16 overs: Ngidi continues with menacing accuracy and skill. Shapes away again from KL's outside edge from a good length on off. Strays down leg and KL flicks it behind square for a single and that's just the second run conceded by Ngidi in 20 balls. On the money from Ngidi and he gets one to nip into Pujara slightly on a middle stump line. Pujara rock solid in his defene though. Sudden bounce on leg and Pujara turns it down behind square for a single and he is off the mark. The ball was in the air for a while there.
IND 36/1 in 15 overs: Jansen continues. OUT! Gone first ball after drinks. Angled across from Mayank on a length and extra bounce got his outside edge to the keeper. Mayank Agarwal c Kyle Verreynne b Marco Jansen 26(37b 5x4 0x6). Three slips and a gully and short leg for new man Pujara. He starts off with leaving a good length ball outside off. A well-directed bouncer on leg and he gets out of the way desperately. Length on stump and Pujara fends it off with a slight hop.
Drinks - Day 1 Session 1 - India 36/0 in 14 overs
IND 36/0 in 14 overs: Ngidi's movement both ways as kept the openers on a leash. He starts off with shaping one away from a good length outside off. Errs in line and length as KL flicks the losener to square leg for a single. This one angled into KL from off stump line and he dabs to the slips with open face. Another good over from Ngidi. Drinks!
IND 35/0 in 13 overs: Left-arm over the wicket to Mayank. A loose one on leg stump is whipped away by Mayank for a single at fine leg. KL is greeted with some surprise bounce that raps him on the gloves unexpectedly.
Jansen replaces Rabada from the other end.
IND 34/0 in 12 overs: Ngidi is extracting visible movement. A fuller one outside off moves away sharply as KL lets it through. A peach! Length on off stump and just beat KL's outside edge as he shaped to defend. Maiden over and the best one of the day so far. The batters looked in two minds for the first time in the day.
IND 34/0 in 11 overs: Close one! This one nipped back into Mayank from a leg stump line and took his inside edge and looped up to fall short of a diving square leg.
IND 32/0 in 10 overs: Good start for him as he gets one to tail into KL on a good length, drawing an outside edge that falls well short of slip. The last one moves away from a good length and KL lifts his bat up to leave.
Ngidi replaces Olivier.
IND 32/0 in 9 overs: Three boundaries in a row. Rabada strays on leg and Mayank turns it away behind square for his fifth boundary of the day. Rabada comes back with some more incisive bowling, pitching it shorter and keeping it closer to the stumps.
IND 28/0 in 8 overs: Olivier thinks he has got KL this time as he decks in a short one and KL leans back to get out of the way. Elgar reviews and replay confirms it went off the shoulder. South Africa loses a review early on. Short again but wide outside off and KL is happy to leave this one with more comfort. FOUR! First boundary for the skipper. Half-volley dolley on leg stump and KL drives it sublimely to the long on boundary. FOUR! Not as convincing but four nonetheless. He edged it between gully and slip trying to push off the backfoot.
IND 20/0 in 7 overs: Rabada continues with a good length outside off but close enough to the stumps to make Mayank play at them. Bowls fuller this time just outside off and Mayank steers it to third slip for a dot. FOUR! Full on leg stump and Mayank drives it with a straight bat to the long on rope.
IND 16/0 in 6 overs: Length on off and good away movement. KL turns this away to square leg for a single as Olivier veers on the pads. Huge appeal for caught behind and turned down. The shout seemed more desperate in hindsight as Elgar doesn't go up. Good ball though as it moved away quite late off a length and the noise was of KL brushing his bat on pad.
IND 15/0 in 5 overs: First one to go off the edge! Pitched outside off and Mayank leans forward for the drive and it goes past the inside edge to fine leg for a single. Bouncer down the leg and the carry isn't very impressive. A peach! A probing fourth stump line on off and it moves away a bit to miss KL's dead bat. Wide outside off and KL leans in to let it pass.
IND 14/0 in 4 overs: Good length from Olivier on fifth stump line and KL resists the temptation to play. A wayward over-the-waist full toss and umpire calls it a no-ball and warns Olivier. Very full outside off and KL drives well but straight to point. Length outside off and KL leaves again. Good comeback from Olivier after a forgettable first over.
IND 13/0 in 3 overs: Rabada continues. Rahul turns one down to fine leg for a single and both openers are now off the mark. This one jagged back in from outside off and into Mayank who left it. FOUR! Three boundary for Mayank as he opens the face and dabs it past a vacant covers area.
IND 8/0 in 2 overs: Decks it in short first ball and Mayank ducks. Fuller and very wide on off and Mayank leaves. Similar length on the middle stump and Mayank turns it down leg for another dot. FOUR! First runs for India as Mayank drives serenely through the covers on the front foot. This one is on a good length and much closer to the stumps; Mayank leaves. FOUR! Low full-toss on the stumps and Mayank digs it to the long off boundary.
Duanne Olivier from the other end.
IND 0/0 in 1 over: Pitched up outside off to begin with and KL leaves with the bat close to the body. Rabada goes straighter and shorter and KL defends with a gentle nudge off the backfoot. Errs in line this time with one down leg. A peach follows as the ball whizzes past KL's outside edge as he pulls back the willow in time. Full on the legs to end the over and KL fends it with ease. Maiden over.
Kagiso Rabada to KL Rahul over the wicket. Here we go!
South Africans take the knee in support of the movement against racism while the Indians stand with their hands on their hearts.
Both teams walk out to the middle at the Bullring and line-up for the national anthems. India's is first up and quite odd to see Kohli singing the anthem from the pavilion.
KL Rahul: Unfortunately Virat has had an upper back spasm, the physios are working on him and hopefully he'll recover for the next Test. It is every Indian player's dream to captain his country. Really honoured and looking forward to this challenge. We have had a few good wins here and hopefully we'll look to continue that. Hanuma Vihari comes in place of Virat. Just the one change. It was a good Test at Centurion overall. We really performed well as a team and are really excited about this match.
Dean Elgar : It (Kohli missing out) doesn't really bother me. We have got a Test match to play. Losing Quinny is never ideal. He has been a big player for us. Losing any big player is never ideal. But we need to move on. We have a lot of talent in our squad and we need to back them. There were a lot of good things you can speak about at Centurion. You need to be fair to the environment. a lot of positives and good conversations for us to take out of that.
India Playing XI : KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
South Africa XI : Dean Elgar (c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi.
KL Rahul informs Virat has a upper-back spasm and thus misses out on the Test. Hanuma Vihari replaces Virat Kohli in the XI.
TOSS TIME: Stand-in captain KL Rahul wins the toss and India is going to bat first.
UPDATE: Huge news coming in from the middle. India captain Virat Kohli will miss out on the second Test and KL Rahul will take over as captain for the match.
Stats preview
Kohli and his men gear up for a historic day
12:30 PM IST: The forecast is clear but it threatens to get gloomy and damp as the day wears on.
PREVIEW
The Wanderers is shaped like a Bullring. The cricketers have to walk through a lengthy covered staircase to enter the ground.
And in the arena, the contests are fierce. The pacemen will come charging at you on a conducive pitch, and the ball will fly around.
In several respects, the Wanderers is the soul, the essence of South African cricket.
It is here that India, already 1-0 up, will strive to conquer the Final Frontier - a maiden Test series triumph in South Africa - when the second of the three Freedom Tests gets underway on Monday.
Elgar wants Proteas to handle De Kock's Test retirement in professional manner
The Indians will not like to leave it to the third Test at Cape Town, which they would want as an occasion to celebrate Virat Kohli’s hundredth Test.
Apart from the Proteas, India will have to battle the weather. Rain has been forecast on all five days of the Test, with thunderstorms on the last two.
Better judgement
The Indians start as favourites. However, they will have to bat better.
Apart from K.L. Rahul’s magnificent 123 at Centurion and his century opening partnership with Mayank Agarwal, the Indian innings lacked knocks of substance.
Kohli and Rahane got starts but could not convert. And the Indian batting disappointed in the second innings.
The visitor will be up against an incisive opening combination of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.
And beanpole left-arm quick Marco Jansen can ask questions with his angle, bounce and movement.
Could the South African still include lively paceman Duanne Olivier after Protea skipper Dean Elgar virtually declared left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj will play?
If Olivier comes in for all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, the tail would become too long in a line-up that is already struggling.
The Indians will seek runs from Cheteshwar Pujara. His tendency to push forward, irrespective of the delivery’s length, makes him vulnerable to a variety of dismissals.
The length should dictate footwork, the golden rule of batting. The same applies to Ajinkya Rahane and Kohli, whose wafty cover drives are proving costly.
Tightness around the off-stump is the key to survival on South African pitches. Rahul showed this in the manner he left and forced the frustrated South African pacemen to shift line and bowl to his strength.
Innings building in Tests is much about patience. You play out deliveries, overs and sessions and things will gradually go your way.
Winning the toss, putting together a solid opening partnership after weathering a challenging first session, and posting a good first innings score is the mantra to success.
The surface at Wanderers could develop cracks as the match progresses and batting could become increasingly difficult; off-spinner R. Ashwin too could come into play.
Opening salvo
The South Africans, save Elgar and Temba Bavuma, are short of confidence and runs. And the Proteas are up against a high-quality pace attack of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohamed Siraj with Shardul Thakur as back-up.
The Proteas desperately need a substantial opening partnership and runs from Aiden Markram.
Quinton de Kock’s replacement, Kyle Verreynne, is believed to be a capable batter. The South African could also play an extra batter in place of all-rounder Mulder.
The focus shifts to the Bullring. India will be going for the kill.
- S. Dinakar
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PROBABLE XI:
INDIA: KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi.
Full Squads
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