India's batting collapses

Mohammed Rumman Khan | NT

Rahul’s patient 50-run knock on a day when India missed Virat Kohli due to back spasms and Ravichandran Ashwin’s cavalier 46 at the rear end ensured that India scored 202 in their first innings on a bouncy Wanderers track.

However, a lot of blame should go to India’s batters as some like Pujara didn’t show intent to score while others like Rahane seemed completely short of confidence.

At stumps, South Africa had cut the deficit to 167 and lost only Aiden Markram in the bargain. Worse, Mohammed Siraj hobbled off with what looked like a hamstring strain and if it’s bad news, then India would be left with four bowlers.

Having given up hopes to play for England, Duanne Olivier, playing his first game for South Africa in three years, dismissed Pujara and Rahane off successive deliveries to make it difficult for the Indians.

Marco Jansen, with his giant frame, created awkward lengths for every Indian batter while Kagiso Rabada, despite not being at his best, got wickets when it mattered.

Injured Kohli’s landmark 100th Test now likely to be in Bengaluru

Everyone was left surprised as Rahul walked in with Dean Elgar for the toss at the Wanderers. This would have been Kohli’s 99th Test and would have RSA take Day 1 honours played his milestone 100th match in Cape Town. Virat Kohli, currently at 98 Tests, missed Wanderers game because of upper back spasm; Stand-in skipper Rahul says he could be fit for the Cape Town game. Hanuma Vihari was replaced Virat in the XI, while fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was named vice-captain and Shreyas Iyer misses out due to a stomach bug.

‘Rahane & Pujara have one innings to save their Test careers’

Sunil Gavaskar has predicted that under pressure Indian batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane might have only one more innings to save their Test careers.