LIVE
Tue, 26 December 2023
1st Test: Rain ends play early; India 208/8 at stumps
Timeline Refresh
20:35 Rabada grabs five but Rahul holds firm for India
India 208-8 (59 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Kagiso Rabada grabbed a five-wicket haul before K L Rahul dug in as bad light and a thunderstorm brought play to a premature close with the touring side on 208/8 on the opening day of the first Test at Centurion on Tuesday.
Rahul was unbeaten on 70 when poor visibility and showers halted proceedings around 80 minutes before the scheduled close, with India holding a tiring home attack at bay.
Earlier, Rabadas pace proved too hot to handle as he returned figures of 5/44 off 17 overs and debutant Nandre Burger took two wickets with his first 13 balls in Test cricket/
India, 91/3 at lunch, were pegged back as they lost three wickets for 30 runs early in the second session when Rabada showed his class.
He bowled Shreyas Iyer for 31, had Virat Kohli caught behind for 38 as he feathered a stunning delivery and Ravichandran Ashwin (8) snagged at second slip by leaping substitute fielder Wiaan Mulder.
Rahul, however, proved a road block for the home side, who were hoping to dismiss India for under 200 on a track tailor-made for their all-seam attack.
Rahul shared a 43-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Rabada returned to have Shardul Thakur caught by Dean Elgar for 24 and claim his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests.
But Rahul continued to torment the attack as he assumed the responsibility with his tail-end partners, his 70 runs coming quickly off 105 balls and taking India past 200.
20:32 Rain ends play early; India 208/8 at stumps
India 208-8 (59 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Rain has ended play early on the opening day. India are 208/8 at stumps on Day 1 with K L Rahul keeping them afloat with a gritty innings of 70 from 105 balls.
Rabada tore through the Indian top and middle order as he picked up 5/44, while debutant Nandre Burger took 2/50.
K L Rahul
19:51 Rahul hits fifty to take India past 200
India 208-8 (59 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Jansen continues as Rahul flicks the second ball through midwicket for two runs before he edges the next ball which falls just short of the fielder at second slip.
Jansen getting the ball to move and also bounce quite a bit as Rahul is beaten before he gets the next uppishly past the fielder at gully for a four.
However, he is unable to get a single from the last ball.
Meanwhile, it has started to rain at SuperSport Park as the umpires call the players off the field.
India are 208/8 in 59 overs, with Rahul on 70 from 105 balls and Siraj yet to score from 10 balls faced.
The rain has gotten a bit heavier as more covers are brought out to the middle to protect the outfield. It is quite windy at SuperSport and the temperatures have dropped quite a bit.
So far, nine overs have been bowled in the session, with South Africa taking one wicket for 32 runs.
19:38 Rahul takes India past 200
India 202-8 (58 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Burger from round the wicket gets the ball to swing into Rahul, who misses the clip and seems to have been struck on the top of the knee.
He inside edges the third ball before he confidently blocks the fourth ball but misses the pull shot off the bouncer.
The last ball is pushed to midwicket as non-striker Siraj looks for a quick single but is sent back in time as Coetzee fumbles.
It has gone quite dark at SuperSport Park in Centurion and there is a slight drizzle in the air.
Jansen from round the wicket. Siraj leaves the first two balls before he pokes away from his body and is beaten and plays and misses again next ball.
The last ball is pitched right up as Siraj blocks it to the fielder at mid-on.
Coetzee is back into the attack. Rahul slaps the first ball past point for two runs before he lofts the third ball over mid-off for a four.
Coetzee goes short as Rahul pulls it through square leg for another boundary to bring up India's 200, in the 58th over.
He picks a single off the fifth ball to thirdman and Siraj leaves the last ball.
19:26 Bumrah out for 1; India 8 down
India 191-8 (55 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Rabada bowls a cracking bouncer to Bumrah, who is struck on the pads before he is beaten by some away movement and then takes a single on the leg side.
Rahul taps the fifth ball on the off-side for one before Bumrah is beaten trying to hit Rabada over the top.
Burger from round the wicket as Rahul is beaten trying to hit through the off-side before he misses the pull shot.
He is again beaten attempting the pull shot before he pulls the last ball to fine leg for a single to retain strike.
Jansen is back into the attack in place of Rabada. Rahul clips the first ball for a single before Bumrah is beaten by some away movement and bounce.
Jansen ends South Africa's frustration as Bumrah is bowled off an inside edge for one as he looks to drive through the off-side.
Mohammed Siraj pushes the first ball into the covers before he blocks the next and ignores the last ball.
19:13 Rahul hits fifty to keep SA at bay
India 187-7 (52 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Rabada to start off with the ball in the final session on the opening day. Rahul misses the clip first ball and the same next ball before he takes a single on the leg side.
Bumrah is beaten as he tries to defend before he plays and misses again next ball but manages to block the last ball.
Nandre Burger from the other end and he continues from round the wicket. Rahul keeps out the first four balls before he gets the fifth ball through midwicket fora four.
Rahul on the attack as he carves the last ball over the thirdman fence for a six to bring up his fifty in grand style, from 80 balls.
18:44 Rabada takes 5; India 176/7 at tea
India 176-7 (50 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Rahul has decided to change gears. Some width from Burger as Rahul hammers it over the off-side for a boundary and blocks the next as the pacer bowls it back of length and on the stumps.
He nudges the fifth ball for a single to give Bumrah the strike for just the last ball, which he keeps out easily.
Rabada from the other end. Rahul is beaten as he tries to uppercut the pacer and then misses the pull shot off a short ball down the leg side.
He is beaten again trying to push Rabada to thirdman off the back of length delivery but cuts the last ball past point for a four.
In the next over, Bumrah pokes and is beaten as Burger some away movement before he defends the next.
He avoids a high bouncer as the wicketkeeper leaps high and gets a hand on it as the batter manage to steal a bye.
Rahul is beaten trying to pull Burger and is struck on the pads next ball trying the same shot next ball.
Rahul takes a single last ball as India go into the tea break on 176/7 in 50 overs.
Rahul is unbeaten on 39 from 71 balls, having showed a lot of determination on a wicket not easy against the pace bowlers, while Bumrah is yet to score,
India lost four wickets for 85 runs in 24 overs in the post-lunch session with Rabada taking all four wickets.
18:27 Rabada takes 5; India 7 down
India 165-7 (47 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Burger back into the attack. He starts his new spell with a short ball to Thakur, who ignores it, before taking a single next ball.
Rahul is beaten trying to drive as Burger from round the wicket gets the ball to move away late.
Rabada is back into the attack with South Africa desperate for a breakthrough.
Thakur sustains another painful blow as Rabada gets the ball to kick off from back of length and strike the right-hander around the right forearm.
Thakur falls off the very next ball. He tries to hit Rabada over the top but ends up holing out to Elgar at mid-off to be dismissed for 24.
Rabada completes his five-wicket haul as India are reduced to 164/7 in the 47th over.
It will be interesting to see if Rahul changes his tactics and looks to farm more of the strike.
Jasprit Bumrah is beaten by some away swing but Rabada has overstepped to bowl a no-ball before he plays and misses again.
K L Rahul
18:14 Rahul-Thakur take India past 150
India 163-6 (45 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Coetzee beats Thakur, who plays a loose shoot, driving away from his body and is beaten on the outside edge.
He gets a thick leading edge next ball which flies past point for a couple of runs.
A good cracking bouncer from Coetzee as Thakur misses the pull and is struck on the side of the helmet.
The physio comes out to treat Thakur, who seems to have got some swelling after that blow on the forehead.
He undergoes some treatment before he is ruled fit to continue and not surprising Coetzee again bowls short as Thakur tries to upper cut but is beaten before he avoids the next two short balls.
Jansen from the round the wicket starts his new over with a short wide delivery as Rahul rocks back to hammer it over the cover fence for a six.
Thakur has a close shave last ball. Rahul taps the last ball to point as Thakur sets off in search for a quick single but is sent back. However, Burger at mid-on misses the direct hit.
17:59 Rahul-Thakur take India past 150
India 155-6 (43 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Thakur clips Jansen's third ball on the leg side for a single and a watchful Rahul easily leaves the last three balls to end the 41st over.
Coetzee gifts Thakur a full toss on the pads which he flicks behind square on the leg side for a four to take India past the 150-run mark.
He takes a single before Rahul ducks under a bouncer and keeps out the last ball.
Thakur has batted positively, scoring 21 from 23 balls, to take the pressure off Rahul at the other end.
The duo have put on 34 runs for the seventh wicket to steady the innings in the last 30-40 minutes.
17:45 Rabada leaves India in a mess!
India 148-6 (40 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Left-arm pacer Jansen comes back into the attack in place of Rabada, who took 4/36 in 13 overs.
Rahul opens the face of the bat to steer the full wide delivery from Jansen behind point for a four.
The next ball from Jansen, from round the wicket, swings into Rahul and strikes him on the pads but there seems to be some inside edge.
The last ball is short as Rahul pulls it over midwicket for a boundary.
In the next over, Thakur is beaten trying to cut Coetzee before he carves the next ball which is again short for a boundary over the covers. He plays the whip off the next ball but can't get it in the gap for just a single to fine leg.
India are 148/6 in 40 overs with Rahul on 23 and Thakur on 14.
17:35 Rabada takes 4; India 6 down
India 135-6 (38 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Coetzee is back into the attack. Rahul takes a single first ball before Shardul Thakur miscues the next ball uppishly as it goes past the bowler for another run.
Rahul clips the fourth ball for another run and Thakur defends the next followed by a leave.
In the next over, Rahul taps Rabada on the leg side for a single and Thakur plays a beautiful straight drive for a four past mid-off and then gets one off the fifth ball.
Coetzee gets the ball to swing in sharply to Thakur, who is struck on the pads, before he drives the next through the covers for three runs.
A high bouncer from Coetzee which goes high over Rahul and wicketkeeper Verreynne does well to stop with with a terrific save to his right for a wide.
Rahul keeps strike with a single from the last ball to deep square leg.
17:24 Rabada takes 4; India 6 down
India 121-6 (35 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Ashwin has a close shave! He hits Rabada uppishly and the ball looks to be going straight to Dean Elgar at mid-off who fails to pick the ball and lets go of an opportunity.
Ashwin plays a beautiful drive through the covers off the last ball for his second boundary.
In the next over, Rahul hits Burger in the gap through the covers for the third four for India in the space of five balls.
Rahul keeps out the next few balls before he gets a single off the fifth ball and Ashwin leaves the last ball.
Rabada continues as Rahul looks to defend but gets an inside edge before he picks a single off the next ball.
Rabada gets the ball to jag in sharply to Ashwin who is struck high on the pads.
He then gets the next ball to move away as Ashwin pokes and is beaten and plays and misses again next ball as he plays way away from his body.
Ashwin's misery finally ends! Rabada gets some extra bounce as the ball goes off the bat handle and the fielder at third slip takes a sharp catch.
Rabada has 4/30 in 12 overs with India slipping to 121/6 in 35 overs.
17:08 Rabada dismisses Kohli; India 5 down
India 107-5 (32 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Left-armer Burger bowls a full wide delivery which Kohli drives square on the off-side for a four. Burger corrects his line and come closer to the stumps getting it to slant away but Kohli is happy to leave.
Rahul quickly rocks back to pull the short ball from Rabada for a boundary through square leg and then takes a single as he fends it to square leg.
Rabada deals another India big blow in the form of batting mainstay Kohli.
Kohli, who made 38 from 64 balls, gets a cracking delivery close on the off and middle stump which he looks to defend, but the ball moves away late to take the edge.
India in trouble on 107/5 in the 31st over with Rabada taking 3/21 in 10 overs.
Burger gets the ball to bounce quite a bit from back of length as Rahul trying to leave is struck on the gloves.
The next ball is on length as Rahul defends and does the same last ball.
17:03 Rabada dismisses Kohli; India 5 down
India 107-5 (31 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Rabada deals another India big blow in the form of batting mainstay Kohli.
Kohli, who made 38 from 64 balls, gets a cracking delivery close to the stumps which he is forced to push at, and it moves away late to take the edge.
16:53 Rabada strikes; Shreyas out for 31
India 98-4 (29 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Burger, who bowled a good spell of 2/23 in five overs in the morning session, is back from the other end.
He starts with an extra bouncing delivery to Kohli, who fends it on the leg side and misses the clip off the next to collect a leg bye and Rahul also does the same next ball for another extra run.
Burger struggling with his line as he bowls another leg side delivery which goes fine off Kohli's pads for four leg byes.
Kohli will be the key player for India with Rahul the last specialist batter and the bowlers to follow.
Rabada bowls wide of the off-stump to Rahul, who is happy to leave as many as possible at the start of his innings.
But the right-hander loses patience as he attempts a reckless pull shot which he misses and looks quite ugly as he swats across the line and leaves the last ball.
16:45 Rabada strikes; Shreyas out for 31
India 92-4 (27 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Kohli and Iyer walk out with the South African fielders to resume the second session on Day 2.
Kagiso Rabada will start off with the ball in the post-lunch session. Kohli pushes the first ball towards point before he takes a quick single next ball.
Iyer plays a nice drive off the fifth ball but Keegan Petersen puts a full length dive to his right to save the boundary.
Rabada cleans up Iyer with the last ball of the over. The length ball comes into Iyer, who is beaten all ends up and is bowled for 31, ending a 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
An early boost for South Africa right at the start of a new session.
16:04 Kohli, Iyer guide India to 91/3 at lunch
India 91-3 (26 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
India go into the lunch break on 91/3 in 26 overs. The visitors staged a good comeback after a few early wickets courtesy of Kohli and Iyer, who have put on an unbroken stand of 91 runs for the fourth wicket.
South Africa have only themselves to blame as they put down easy catches off Kohli and Iyer.
Kohli stroked 33 from 47 balls, while Iyer made 31 from 46 balls as India got back on track after a horror start.
Earlier, Kagiso Rabada provided South Africa with the early wicket when he dismissed Rohit Sharma for five.
Debutant Nandre Burger enjoyed a dream start to his Test career as he claimed the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.
South Africa, who elected to field, also saw their captain Temba Bavuma walk off the field with a hamstring injury.
15:58 Kohli, Iyer get India back on track
India 88-3 (25 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
After a few length balls, Coetzee attempts the short ball at Iyer, who avoids it before tapping another short ball on the off-side for a quick single.
Kohli glances the last ball fine on the leg side for a couple of runs.
Jansen continues with around 15 minutes left for lunch. He starts his new over with a short ball as Iyer taps it on the leg side and wants a quick single but is sent back.
He clips the next ball for a single before Kohli stretches well forward to drive the pacer through the covers for three runs and Iyer inside edges the fifth ball for one.
Iyer looking much more confident now. He flicks the full delivery on his pads from Coetzee over square leg for a six.
He misses the clip next ball and takes a leg bye and Kohli taps the fifth ball on the off-side for a single.
15:44 Kohli, Iyer steady India
India 72-3 (22 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Iyer plays a risky flick which flies to the left of the fielder at leg slip for a four.
A good short ball from Coetzee as Iyer fends it away and the ball flies over the slips for a couple of runs before he flicks the next but it falls just a short touch of the leg slip fielder and he blocks the last ball.
In the next over, Kohli taps Jansen on the off-side and steals a quick single and Iyer picks one off the next.
Jansen pitches it up as Kohli plays a beautiful drive straight down the ground for a four.
15:38 India struggle after early wickets
India 60-3 (20 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Jansen comes back for his second spell in place of Burger, who took 2/23 in five overs.
Kohli defends the first few balls before he takes a single off the fifth ball and Iyer keeps out the last ball.
In the next over, Coetzee has a confident appeal for leg before turned down against Kohli.
The ball swung in sharply into Kohli, who missed the flick, but the ball looks to be going down as Bavuma decides against the review.
In the next over, Iyer plays a beautiful straight drive off Jansen for two runs and then takes a single next ball.
Kohli drives the pacer through the covers for a couple of runs as South Africa captain Temba Bavuma seems to have pulled his hamstring as he chases the ball.
Bavuma looks in a lot of pain as he walks off the ground for treatment.
Kohli and Iyer have steadied the ship slightly as India reach 60/3 in 20 overs with Kohli on 19 and Iyer on 15.
15:24 Kohli, Iyer take India past 50
India 55-3 (17 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Another catch put down by the South Africans!
This time Kohli is dropped by Tony de Zorzi at square leg as he plays an uppish flick off Burger, in the 14th over.
He inside edges the last ball square on the leg side for a couple of runs.
Finally Rabada gets a break after a good first spell of 1/15 in seven overs as Gerald Coetzee comes into the attack.
Iyer gets a leading edge off the second ball for a single and Kohli clips the next on the leg side for another run.
Coetzee strays down the leg side but Iyer misses the flick before he blocks the last ball back to the bowler.
In the next over, Kohli plays a beautiful punch straight down the ground past mid-off for a four off pacer Burger.
A few balls later, he flicks the pacer through square leg for another boundary to bring up India's 50, in the 16th over.
Coetzee continues as Iyer again gets the leading edge trying to flick with the ball going past point for two runs followed by two singles.
15:03 Jaiswal, Gill perish; India 3 down
India 38-3 (13 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Gill defends the first ball from Rabada followed by leaves off the next two and he defends the fourth ball on the leg side and Kohli keeps out the last two balls.
Burger has a confident shout for catch down the leg side turned down against Gill.
South Africa take the review. There is a clear spike as the ball passes the gloves down the leg side with Kyle Verreynne completing an easy catch.
The decision is overturned as Gill walks back for three as India slip to 24/3 in the 12th over.
Four slips in place along with a backward short leg for new batter Shreyas Iyer.
Not surprising that Iyer is greeted with a short ball from Burger which bounces high over the batter and is ruled a wide.
Burger bowls a full delivery on the stumps as Iyer flicks it through midwicket for a four to get off the mark.
A good short ball from Burger as Iyer finds himself in a tangle as he fends it away to fine leg for one.
Burger bowls another loose delivery, full and too straight as Kohli clips it through square leg for a four.
A long first spell for Rabada as he bowls the seventh over of his first spell. Iyer, on 4, gets a lifeline as he plays an uppish drive off Rabada's full delivery but Jansen at point puts down a simple catch to his right and also ends up conceding a four.
The first hour has belonged to South Africa who have picked early wickets to leave India in trouble on 38/3 in 13 overs.
14:49 Jaiswal out for 17; India in trouble
India 23-2 (10 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Gill gets off the mark with a single off Rabada fine on the leg side. Some extra bounce for Rabada as Jaiswal manages to keep it out and steals a quick single off the last ball to keep strike.
Burger keeps plugging away on the line just outside the off-stump to left-hander Jaiswal, who is content to leave.
Burger goes full and gets some away movement as Jaiswal goes for the drive but this time gets the edge and is caught behind for 17.
Debutant Burger is quite delighted at picking up his first Test wicket.
Kohli defends the first ball he faces before he misses the clip off a full delivery down the leg side as South Africa appeal for catch down the leg side but nothing from the umpire.
14:36 Rohit out for 5; India lose 1st wkt
India 21-1 (8 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Jansen not making the batters play much especially left-hander Jaiswal, who is happy to leave as much as he can against the new ball.
He leaves four out of the first five balls before Jansen comes closer to the stumps. And this time Jaiswal pushes away from his body as he gets the thick outside edge which flies past the slips for a four.
Rabada from the other end. The first ball is full and down the leg side as Gill misses the glance with the keeper putting in a full length dive to save some runs.
The last ball is slightly short and swings in quite a lot into Gill, who is struck on the body.
Debutant left-arm pacer Nandre Burger comes into the attack. The first ball is on length as Jaiswal pokes and is beaten.
The next ball is short as Jaiswal cuts it uppishly over point for a boundary to take his score to 16 -- with all runs coming in boundaries.
Burger pitches the fifth ball right up as Jaiswal goes for a big drive through the covers and is beaten.
14:23 Rohit out for 5; India lose 1st wkt
India 13-1 (5 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
A couple of leaves for Rohit before he smashes a short wide delivery from Rabada past point for a four.
The next ball swings in a lot way as Rohit is struck on the pads but the leg before shout is turned down and South Africa not interested in the review either.
Jaiswal not wanting to do anything away from his body as he leaves the first four balls from Jansen.
The pacer bowls in the slot, full and wide, as Jaiswal drives it through the covers for his second four followed by another leave.
In the next over, Rabada bowls a beauty drawing Rohit forward with a full delivery before the ball moves away enough to go past the edge.
A few deliveries outside the off-stump before Rabada surprises Rohit with the short ball at the body. The India captain can't get hold of the pull shot and ends up pulling it straight to fine leg to perish for five.
14:10
India 5-0 (2 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard
Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the two openers for India, while Kagiso Rabada opens the bowling for the hosts.
The first ball is on length and moves away as Jaiswal makes a late leave with the ball seaming away before the left-hander leaves the next two balls.
He is beaten off the fifth ball as he tries to defend but the new ball moves away enough to go past the edge.
The last ball is overpitched on the leg stump line as Jaiswal clips it through square leg for a four to get off the mark.
Left-arm Marco Jansen from the other end. He pitches the first ball up and gets it to swing in as Rohit inside edges the first ball on to the leg side.
The next ball bounces a bit more as Rohit manages to fend it past short leg for a single to get off the mark.
Another full delivery which Jaiswal pushes into the off-side and wants a single but his skipper is not interested.
Jansen goes full and gets the ball to move away but the line is away from the stumps as Jaiswal easily leaves.
14:02 SA opt to bowl; Prasidh debuts for India
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma is hoping to make most of the conditions. They are playing without a spinner as Keshav Maharaj is left out, while fielding four specialist pacers.
"We will bowl first. The pitch has been under covers, we want to use the moisture and pick up early wickets," he said.
For South Africa,Nandre Burger and David Bedingham are making their Test debuts.
Rohit says India have gone in with five specialist bowlers, including four pacers and a lone spinner.
"We are playing with four seamers and a spinner. Ashwin is playing in place of Jadeja. Jaddu had a bit of a back spasm in the warm ups today, Ashwin comes in. Prasidh will be making his debut, along with the other pacers Shardul, Siraj and Bumrah," he says at the toss.
Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (w/k), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger.
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, K L Rahul (w/k), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
13:51 SA win toss; elect to bowl vs India
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the first Test.
"Actually I was not sure so it is better in times like these to lose the toss," admits India skipper Rohit Sharma at the toss.
Pacer Prasidh Krishna makes his Test debut for India, who have gone in with four pacers including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
Ravichandran Ashwin is the lone spinner with Ravindra Jadeja ruled out with back spasms.
"Ravindra Jadeja complained of upper back spasms on the morning of the match. He was not available for selection for the first Test," said BCCI.
13:33 Toss at 1.45pm IST, Play starts at 2pm
The umpires have conducted an inspection of the conditions. They have announced that toss will take place at 1.45pm IST with the match set to take place at 2pm IST.
13:32 Prasidh Krishna set to make debut
The players from the two teams are warming up out in the middle.
India head coach Rahul Dravid indicates that pacer Prasidh Krishna could make his Test debut.
"Prasidh is a promising prospect but we have to be realistic as this is first match. I am hoping he has a good game and enjoys himself," said Dravid
13:00 Toss delayed due to wet outfield
The toss in the series opener has been delayed because of a wet outfield caused due to heavy overnight in Centurion.
"The toss and start of the 1st Test between South Africa and India have been delayed due to wet patches on the outfield. Further inspection at 10:00 AM (1.30 PM IST)," said BCCI on X.
12:54 Can India finally end South African jinx?
Welcome to the coverage of the first Test between India and South Africa in Centurion on Tuesday.
Welcome to the coverage of the first Test between India and South Africa in Centurion on Tuesday.
India go in search of history when they face hosts South Africa in a two-match series, hoping to claim a first ever series victory in a country where they have come close before only to fall agonisingly short.
South Africa have been victors in seven of Indias eight visits since the first in 1992 with one series drawn in 2010/11, but six of those successes have been by a single win margin.
World No 1 India may feel they have never had a better chance. This South African side does not have the experience and quality with bat and ball of those of years gone by, and their top six in particular can be brittle.
India have some injured absentees but remain a formidable side with back-to-back series successes in Australia giving them the belief they can conquer this particular Everest.
Leading seamer Mohammed Shami is not fit, while batter Ruturaj Gaikwad is also out with an injured finger. Virat Kohli flew home for personal reasons this week, but is expected to be back for the first test.
Quite remarkably, South Africa have not drawn a Test at home since a rain-affected game against New Zealand in 2016, a run of 32 matches that has yielded 24 wins and eight defeats.
That is testament to the steady weather, positive cricket they play and the pitches, which are among the most challenging in the world for batters with swing, seam and spin all generally on offer through the five days.
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances