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PRETORIA : Light rain delayed the start of play on the second day of the first South Africa-India test match, with India 208-8 overnight after being put into bat by hosts South Africa at Centurion, near Pretoria.
Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sunil Gavaskar believes that the presence of veteran star Ajinkya Rahane could have boosted India's top order in the first Test match against South Africa in Centurion on Tuesday. India struggled to get going after the rain-delayed start on Day 1 and none of the top-order batters were able to capitalise on their starts with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal all losing their wickets early. Rahane has fallen out of favour with the team management and was not included for the South Africa series after less than satisfactory performances in the past. However, Gavaskar said that his overseas record would have proven crucial in the South African conditions.
South Africa is a pace bowler's paradise. The bounce and swing on offer often make travelling teams ditch their traditional plans for a pace-heavy attack in a bid to ace the South African challenge. As the Indian team reached Centurion for the first Test, expectations were from the management to field 4 pacers and just one spinner. As fans looked to track the practice sessions to understand the bowling composition India will proceed with, many were left surprised to see the head coach Rahul Dravid bowl.
Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely be missing the T20I series against Afghanistan, but will be fit before the Indian Premier League (IPL) from his ankle injury, a source told ANI. Pandya was part of India's ICC Cricket World Cup squad. He played four matches, picking five wickets with the best bowling figures of 2/34 and scoring 11* against Australia in his only innings before an ankle injury sustained during a league stage game against Bangladesh on October 19 ruled him out of the tournament.
India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 2 Live Updates:An eventful Day 1 of the first Test between India and South Africa in Centurion saw the tourists putting 208 runs on the board for the loss of 7 wickets, all thanks to KL Rahuls' unbeaten 70. Kagiso Rabad made the full use of a useful SuperSport Park wicket and overcast conditions to claim 5 wickets on the opening day but rain ensured that only 59 overs were possible in the innings.
The Indian cricket team didn't get off to the finest of starts on Day 1 of the first Test against South Africa, with KL Rahul emerging as the only batter to score a half-century. Had it not been for Rahul's gritty knock, India might not have even managed to put 200 runs on the board. Seeing the touring batting unit's poor show on Day 1 of the Centurion Test, Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar admitted that the team needed someone like Ajinkya Rahane in the middle.
Rain played its part as India took on South Africa on Day 2 of the first Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday. Wet patches in the outfield delayed the toss while a full 90 overs couldn't be completed due to rainfall in the second half of the day. Before stumps, India did manage to put 208/7 on the board, thanks to a valiant effort from wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul and a gutsy cameo from Shardul Thakur. But, as the two teams prepare for the second day's action, more rain is expected.
Indian cricket team star batter Virat Kohli failed to capitalise on a good start after he was dismissed by South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada on Day 1 of the first Test match in Centurion on Tuesday. Kohli survived an early chance as Tony De Zorzi dropped his catch off the bowling of Nandre Burger and just when India fans were hoping for another half-century from Kohli, he feel victim to a ripper from Rabada. The delivery pitched outside the off-stump and maintained his line while Kohli tried to play it with some hands. He ended up edging it behind the stumps as wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne completed an easy catch. Kohli was visibly disappointed with the dismissal and after the umpire raised his finger, Kohli practiced the shot by himself as if to rectify his mistake.