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Sunil Gavaskar's Blunt Ajinkya Rahane Reminder As Indian Batters Struggle Against South Africa

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.

Centurion Weather Report, India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 2: Two Hours Of Rain Likely

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.

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.

'Would Have Beaten South Africa But For This Fellow': Ravi Shastri's Blockbuster Verdict

Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri said on Tuesday that the Rohit Sharma-led side has the perfect chance to win their first Test series ever on South African soil because of the absence of a single cricketer. Shastri referenced the brilliant record of former Proteas cricketer Vernon Philander and said that the fact that he is not part of the team automatically gives India the advantage. The fast bowler enjoyed a tremendous run of form against India during his playing career and in the five Test matches that he played at home, he ended up taking 25 wickets at an average of 18.

"Qualities You Like In A Man?" Question Stumps Smriti Mandhana. She Replies, "Accha Ladka..."

Smriti Mandhana is one of the trailblazers in Indian sport currently. The Indian women's cricket team batter is one of the star batter of the side. She has so far played six ODIs, 80 ODIs and 125 T20Is scoring over 6000 runs across formats. In the recently concluded Test match against Australia, Mandhana scored 74 and 38* as India registered their maiden win over the side in a women's Test match. The India star recently came on an episode of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, along with Ishan Kishan. There she faced an out of the box question.

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Sunil Gavaskar's Blunt Ajinkya Rahane Reminder As Indian Batters Struggle Against South Africa

Centurion Weather Report, India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 2: Two Hours Of Rain Likely

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

'Would Have Beaten South Africa But For This Fellow': Ravi Shastri's Blockbuster Verdict

"Qualities You Like In A Man?" Question Stumps Smriti Mandhana. She Replies, "Accha Ladka..."