1st Test, Day 1: KL Rahul smashes unbeaten ton as India make solid start

Opener KL
Rahul smashed a solid 122 not out on the opening day of the first Test at SuperSport
Park, Centurion on Sunday as India scored 272 for 3 at stumps. This was Rahul’s
sixth overseas century as India made a near-perfect start to the three-match Test series
against South Africa.

Putting to
bat first, Rahul (122 batting off 248), alongside opener partner Mayank Agarwal
(60), set up a strong platform for India with a 117-run stand. 

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Virat Kohli fell to a loose shot

Skipper
Virat Kohli (35 off 94) fell to a loose shot after doing all the hardwork while
under-pressure Cheteshwar Pujara lasted only one ball.

Rahul and
Ajinkya Rahane (40 batting off 81), who like Pujara is fighting to save his
place in the team, were in the middle at the close of play. Rahane looked in a good
touch and will be aiming for big score on day two. Barring Lungi Ngidi, who
took all the wickets to fall on the day, South Africa pacers were not probing
enough in their line and lengths and offered too many loose balls.

Rahul displayed his class

The day
belonged to Rahul, who showed remarkable resolve and application during his
seventh Test hundred. He reached the three-figure mark in England earlier this year
and has also scored a hundred in every country he has played in. Just like he
had done it in England alongside Rohit Sharma, Rahul played with absolute
clarity knowing which balls to leave and which ones to go for his shots. His
friend and Karnataka teammate Agarwal also made it easier for Rahul early on by
being the aggressor in the partnership.

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In the end,
Rahul ended up collecting 16 fours and a six. His innings had all his
attractive range of strokes, including the cover drives and his punch shot off
the back foot. He got to the 90s with a six off spinner Keshav Maharaj and
stayed there for a while before reaching the milestone with a gentle steer off
the left-arm bowler through point. He also shared a crucial 82 run stand with
Kohli after Ngidi removed Agarwal and Pujara off successive deliveries.

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The India
skipper was the only wicket to fall in the evening session and that was rather
a gift to the struggling South Africa. Kohli went for an expansive drive off a
very wide ball, something he didn’t need to with India in a commanding
position.

South Africa fought back 

Earlier,
South Africa fought back with a couple of wickets in the afternoon session via
Ngidi but India still controlled the proceedings by reaching 157 for two at
tea.

India
scored 74 runs in the second session while Ngidi removed Agarwal and Pujara off
successive balls to provide the hosts much-needed breakthroughs.

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Agarwal,
who got to his half century after lunch, was dismissed against the run of play.

The ball
appeared to bounce over the wicket apart from missing the leg stump but the
on-field decision was reversed when DRS revealed that it was hitting the
wickets, leaving Agarwal in disbelief.

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His fall
also ended a memorable partnership, making Rahul and Agarwal only the third
Indian opening pair to stitch a century stand in 21 games in South Africa.

With the sun
coming out, Pujara walked in and was dismissed the first ball, inside edging a
defensive shot to Keegan Petersen at short leg. Soon after, Rahul brought up
his fifty with a delightful cover drive off Ngidi.

In the
morning session, Agarwal and Rahul played with the required discipline in
testing conditions to take India to 83 for no loss.

India won the toss

Kohli made
a brave call to bat first on a greenish surface which is expected to get
quicker as the game progresses. Agarwal drove Ngidi through point for the first
four of the innings. Rahul, who took 21 balls to get off the mark, played an
exquisite straight drive off Kagiso Rabada to get going.

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Debutant
left-arm pacer Jansen made a nervy start to his career with Agarwal dispatching
him for three fours in his opening over.

The 6 feet
8 inch bowler’s first ball in Test cricket was a gentle full toss which Agarwal
duly dispatched through cover point. Then the lanky pacer bowled a couple into
the pads which were crisply flicked away.

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The South
African pacers bowled a tad too short in the first hour of play. The Dean
Elgar-led side also wasted a review early in the session.

The only
chance that came South Africa’s way went begging with a diving Quinton de Kock
dropping Agarwal off Jansen. He was batting on 36 at that time.