After a delayed start to the India vs South Africa Boxing day Test, The Proteas decided to test out the Indian batting order on Day 1.
However, with skipper Rohit Sharma returning to the side among other players as well, spirits were high among the team to produce some good cricket on opening day.
Rohit Sharma did start off well with a boundary in the very first over, but got himself dismissed pretty early in the innings on just 5 runs courtesy of a Kagiso Rabada delivery. This was the 6th time that Rabada dismissed the Team India skipper in Test cricket.
With India adjusting on the Centurion pitch after an early shock, in came Nandre Burger who managed to take his maiden Test wicket when he sent opener Yashasvi Jaiswal back to the pavilion on just 17 runs as he too got beaten by the swinging delivery in the 10th over.
๐ช TOSS
๐ฟ๐ฆ The Proteas have won the toss and will bowl first ๐
2๏ธโฃ Debutants today . David Bedingham and Nandre Burger have earned their first caps #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/vD0FVYIJKo
โ Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 26, 2023
The Protea pacers were piling the pressure onto the Indian batters which proved to be successful in the end as Shubman Gill also got out after becoming the third consecutive batter to get caught behind while facing pace on Day 1.
Nandre Burger bagged his second wicket in what is turning out to be a star studded spell from the pacer. The pacerโs confident display against the likes of experienced cricketers like Rohit Sharma is a sign of good things to come for South Africa.
๐จ Team News ๐จ
Prasidh Krishna makes his Test debut.
A look at #TeamIndiaโs Playing XI ๐ฝ
Follow the Match โถ๏ธ https://t.co/Zyd5kIcYso
๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐: Mr Ravindra Jadeja complained of upper back spasms on the morning of the match. He was not available for selection for theโฆ pic.twitter.com/r7Tch9hueo
โ BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2023
With Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer on the pitch, all the Indian fans would be wishing for is for the a steady and fruitful partnership from the duo which will help India put up a decent total on the board.
ย