It was for the first time since 1989 that India came out to play a test match where the team list did not have the name of Sachin Tendulkar. It was for the first time in 24 years when a different figure came out to bat for India when after the fall of second wicket. But he managed to protect India from any kind of danger, almost in the way the little master had done it in the last 24 years. It was none other than Virat Kohli. It was mainly because of Kohli’s brilliant innings of 119 that the members of the Indian team management had bright smiles at the end of first day’s play of the first test match against South Africa at the Wanderers.
Earlier in the day Mahendra Singh Dhoni sent a strong message to the home team when he elected to bat first after winning the toss. The Indian batsmen had a solid start though they did not score too much of runs. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan set up a good platform for the Indian middle-order as they played the first hour of the opening day without scoring much. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli made capital of the platform set by the openers and began to score runs. Kohli was by some distant the dominant partner in the 89-run stand for the third wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara was playing well too but a horrible mix-up with Kohli bought his downfall when he was on individual score of 25. Kohli then partnered Rohit Sharma (14) and Ajinkya Rahane (43*) to take India’s total past the 200-run mark. It was Kohli’s first tour of South Africa but he never seemed to be in any sort of trouble facing the South African fiery bowling line-up that included the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Jacques Kallis. At the end of the day, Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane are at the crease with India having scored 255/5.
Coming to the South African bowling, it can be said that they bowled well in patches. But that spark was missing. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel bowled brilliantly but there was not much support from the third and fourth pacer that prevented them from picking up more wickets. Even leg-spinner Imran Tahir and part-time bowler JP Duminy went for too many runs that let the pressure put on by the pacers go begging. But it was also some excellent batting display on behalf of the Indian batsmen that kept the bowlers at bay.
The fighting spirit put up by the Indian batsmen on the first day has promised a lot to the Indian fans. Now if only India can back it up with some good show with the bowl, obviously after setting a big total at the end of first innings, the hard work put in by the batsmen will be rewarded.
Tags: Ajinkya Rahane Cheteshwar Pujara Dale Steyn I India vs South Africa Jacques Kallis Kohli scored century Mahendra Singh Dhoni Morne Morkel Murali Vijay Rohit Sharma Sachin Tendulkar Shikhar Dhawan Vernon Philander Virat Kohli
