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On India's Troubles In 1st Test Against South Africa, Sunil Gavaskar Namedrops Out-Of-Favour Star

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.

Watch: Rahul Dravid's Never-Seen-Before Act Stuns Everyone, Virat Kohli Follows Suit

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.

Watch: Virat Kohli Has No Answer To Kagiso Rabada's Ripper, Does This After Dismissal In Boxing Day Test

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.

"A Great Chance...": Sunil Gavaskar's Verdict Even As India Have Tough Day vs South Africa

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team had a tough day in office as it lost eight wickets on way to reach 208 at stumps on the first day of the first day of the first Test against South Africa. India have never won a Test series in the 'Rainbow Nation' and since the current series is only a two-match affair, the margin of error is also less. On Tuesday, in a rain-curtailed Day of the 1st Test, after the top-order failed, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer stitched a good stand. However, it was KL Rahul's unbeaten 70 off 105 balls that was crucial in India going past 200-run mark.

Virat Kohli Surpasses Rohit Sharma To Take No. 1 Spot In Elite WTC List Of Indian Batters

Star India batter Virat Kohli reached another landmark on day one of the first Test match against South Africa in Centurion on Tuesday to become the highest run-getter for India in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2019-2025. The former India skipper surpassed Rohit Sharma to achieve the milestone. Kohli scored 2101 runs in 57 innings. While Rohit made 2097 runs in 42 innings. Apart from Kohli and Rohit, Cheteshwar Pujara holds the third place on the list with 1769 runs in 62 innings. Following that Ajinkya Rahane (1589 runs in 49 innings) and Rishabh Pant (1575 runs in 41 innings) stand on the list respectively.

"At This Stage, Virat Kohli Doesn't Need...": Batting Coach's Honest Take On India Star

Virat Kohli came into the Centurion Test with only one proper net session on Christmas eve but India batting coach Vikram Rathour categorical said that at this stage of his career, the former captain doesn't need to train a lot. Kohli didn't take part in the only three-day intra-squad practice game played at Tuks Oval in Pretoria and had taken prior permission to meet his family in UK for a mini four-day vacation. On a Centurion pitch that offered a lot of bounce, Kohli looked in good touch for his 38 before Kagiso Rabada's late away swinger squared him up as India finished the rain-hit Day-1 on 208 for eight.

India vs South Africa - Virat Kohli Got One That Swung Away Late: Kagiso Rabada

Star batter Virat Kohli was covering the swing well although he played and missed often until one ball moved away late to send him back to the dressing room, a pleased as punch Kagiso Rabada said after getting his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. India were restricted to 208 for 8 in 59 overs by South Africa on a truncated first day of the opening Test at Supersport Park here on Tuesday, and the awkward bounce became the visiting team batters' undoing.

Five-Star Kagiso Rabada Rattles India As KL Rahul displays Grit On Rain-Hit Day

Kagiso Rabada was at his lethal best, knocking the stuffing out of India's batting ‘prima donnas' with a fifer on a track offering extra and variable bounce as South Africa took control of the proceedings on the opening day of the first Test on Tuesday. KL Rahul (70 batting, 105 balls) continued his love affair with Supersport Park, displaying excellent temperament on a difficult pitch taking India to 208 for 8 in 59 overs when rain forced early stumps. Rabada (5/44 in 17 overs) bowled two of the most intimidating and incisive spells witnessed in recent times to completely rock the Indian batting line-up, which struggled to cope with the conditions. One of the finest fast bowlers in contemporary cricket, Rabada bowled an absolute peach to dismiss Virat Kohli (38 off 64 balls) with the old ball after having bounced out Indian skipper Rohit Sharma (5) in his first spell.

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Virat Kohli Sport News

On India's Troubles In 1st Test Against South Africa, Sunil Gavaskar Namedrops Out-Of-Favour Star

Watch: Rahul Dravid's Never-Seen-Before Act Stuns Everyone, Virat Kohli Follows Suit

Watch: Virat Kohli Has No Answer To Kagiso Rabada's Ripper, Does This After Dismissal In Boxing Day Test

"A Great Chance...": Sunil Gavaskar's Verdict Even As India Have Tough Day vs South Africa

Virat Kohli Surpasses Rohit Sharma To Take No. 1 Spot In Elite WTC List Of Indian Batters

"At This Stage, Virat Kohli Doesn't Need...": Batting Coach's Honest Take On India Star

India vs South Africa - Virat Kohli Got One That Swung Away Late: Kagiso Rabada

Five-Star Kagiso Rabada Rattles India As KL Rahul displays Grit On Rain-Hit Day