SA vs IND, 1st Test, Day 1 – KL Rahul’s ton puts India in ascendency

KL Rahul’s seventh Test century headlined the Boxing Day Test in Centurion against South Africa in the first Test. Earlier in the day, Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bat first. India finished the day at 272/3 by stumps on Day 1 with KL Rahul and Ajinkyta Rahane unbeaten at the crease.

Rahul and Mayank Agarwal strung a crucial 117-run partnership between them for the opening wicket before Lungi Ngidi struck on back-to-back balls, getting out Agarwal for 60 and Cheteshwar Pujara for a golden duck, but Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane hung around with centurion Rahul to ensure India did not waste their sturdy start.

Here are the top talking points from Day 1:

KL Rahul’s magnificent century 

Rahul rose to the occasion magnificently, standing unbeaten on 122 at the end of the day. He started cautiously and continued showing discipline throughout the day, but never missed out on scoring opportunities, with none of the Proteas bowlers even coming close to trouble him. He has struck one six and 14 fours thus far, while this was his sixth overseas century.

Mayank Agarwal’s questionable dismissal

Rahul’s partner Agarwal, it seemed, picked from where he had left in Mumbai when he slammed 150 against New Zealand. His stroke-filled 60-run knock in Centurion ended when Ngidi rapped him on the pads. While on the initial impression it seemed the ball hitting high enough on the pads to miss the stumps, the ball-tracker revealed it to be clipping the stumps on South Africa’s review, leaving Agarwal visibly upset. He struck nine fours in his 123-ball outing.

Virat Kohli throws another start away

Indian skipper Kohli looked in his elements during his 35 but ended up chasing a wide delivery from Ngidi into the hands of the second slip to once again fail to convert his start. Kohli, who struck four boundaries in his knock, has now gone without a century for 13 Tests, with his last ton coming back in November 2019 against Bangladesh in Kolkata.