Mohali Test: Vijay and Jadeja Step up For India as SA End at 28/2
Catch the live coverage of the first Test between India and South Africa at The Quint.
advertisement
Stumps on Day 1!
India have staged a bit of a comeback in Mohali by the end of day 1. Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin sending back opener Stiaan van Zyl and Faf du Plessis in the final session of play.
South Africa end at 28/2, trailing India by 173 runs.
Sir Jadeja Strikes!
Comeback man Ravindra Jadeja is straight away made an impact in his first over. Faf du Plessis, making his Test debut, is sent back for a duck.
What do you know. Is this going to be a happy birth day for the Indian skipper after all?
South Africa: 2/9
No Dice for Stiaan van Zyl
Well, the birthday Gods seem to finally be smiling at our young skipper. Opener Stiaan van Zyl goes for a has been sent packing for a 23-ball-5.
Ravi Ashwin with India’s first breakthrough of the day.
South Africa: 1/9
India Bowled Out For 201
That’s it, the Indian innings come to an end.
Imran Tahir gets rid of Varun Aaron with a googly for zero. Dean Elgar is the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with four wickets.
Murali Vijay (75 off 136 balls) was the top scorer for the hosts.
Sir Jadeja Goes, India Bring in 200
Vernon Philander has managed to ensure Kohli doesn’t celebrate too much on his 27th Birthday today.
Ravi Jadeja put up a long fight in his comeback match but 38 is about all he could manage to add to the team’s total.
End of the over though, India 201 for 8.
Jadeja and Ashwin Hold Fort
Not much bat meeting ball out in the middle at Mohali but the Indian dressing room won’t be complaining.
Jadeja and Ashwin have together posted 30 in their 12 overs together so far.
Teams Break for Tea, India 168/7
Ravindra Jadeja(26*) has managed to hold fort till the end of the second session on day 1 and he’s got R Ashwin(4*) for company.
Chants on AB, AB from the stands as the Proteas walk to their dressing room. Dean Elgar with the biggest smile - four wickets already today.
Amit Mishra Goes
Four day test anyone?
Amit Mishra in a bit of a hurry to get scoring in the middle, instead lands one right into the waiting palms of Dale Steyn.
Dean Elgar’s fourth wicket this.
India: 154/7
Vijay Trapped LBW, Welcome the Bowlers
The one player who looked in any mood to stick around till the end of the day is now walking back to the hut. The opener tried to sweep Harmer but instead saw the umpire lifting his finger following a loud, loud appeal.
The Proteas jumping around in the middle, Jadeja staring at the tail enders.
In walks Amit Mishra.
India: 140/6
Murali Vijay’s Timely 50
Ravindra Jadeja is the new man in and he walks out to immediately celebrate Murali Vijay’s half century. The opener gets to the mark with a boundary.
Stat alert: Vijay now has a 50+ innings in each of his last 7 Tests.
Elgar Picks Third Wicket
3/5 - that’s what Dean Elgar’s figures look like in Mohali right now.
He’s picked up Pujara, Rahane and now Saha’s wicket as well. The new keeper has fallen for a duck.
India: 102/5
Rahane Falls for 15
India just about managed to cross the 100-run mark with M Vijay and Rahane trying to string together a partnership but South Africa have managed to strike once again.
The Mumbai batsman played 48 deliveries in the middle before becoming the second wicket of the day for Dean Elgar.
India: 102/4
India Take Lunch at 82/3
Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay were pulling India along swiftly until the Saurashtra batsman got out LBW to Dean Elgar. Then the home team suffered a major blow when skipper Virat Kohli looped a catch to Elgar off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling for 1.
Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay are at the crease for India.
Not So Happy Birthday For Virat
Well, birthday luck for skipper Virat Kohli seemed to last only till the toss. Kagiso Rabada has got the monkey off his back and picks up his first Test wicket.
Suddenly India has gone from 63/1 to 65/3.
Elgar Traps Pujara Leg-Before
Part-timer Dean Elgar has got the all-important wicket of Pujara. The Saurashtra batsman, who was looking very comfortable played for the turn, but unfortunately it was a straighter one. He goes for 31.
Hello Virat Kohli!
Pujara, Vijay Keep India on Track
Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay have weathered the early morning storm. After Dhawan’s loss, both the batsmen applied themselves and have got set.
They are finding the gaps with ease at the moment.
Vijay Surpasses 2000 Runs
With the boundary off Simon Harmer, Murali Vijay now has 2000 Test runs in innings where has taken strike while opening the batting. He averages 52.68 (at this stage) in 39 such innings.
Dhawan Out For a Duck!
Well Shikhar Dhawan’s ODI and T20 bad form has carried over to the Tests as well. He was in ‘hot’ Test form according to Ravi Shastri before the Test match, but not any more.
Dhawan flashed at a delivery outside the off-stump yet again and got caught in the slips.
India Win Toss
India’s skipper Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat first in the first test at Mohali.
Ravichandran Ashwin is back from injury for India. JP Duminy and Morne Morkel are still unavailable for the Proteas. Kagiso Rabada makes his debut.
India Squad: S Dhawan, M Vijay, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, WP Saha, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, A Mishra, VR Aaron, UT Yadav
South Africa Squad: D Elgar, S van Zyl, F du Plessis, HM Amla*, AB de Villiers, DJ Vilas, VD Philander, SR Harmer, DW Steyn, K Rabada, Imran Tahir
Hello and good morning everyone!
And a very happy birthday to Virat Kohli!
Welcome to the live coverage of the first Test between India and South Africa in Mohali. India and South Africa will be going on to play four Tests.
India is under pressure after losing the T20 series first 2-0 and then the ODI series 3-2.
Until the match begins, here’s some of our preview pieces you can read.
Stat Alert: Why South Africa Tests Could be a Cakewalk for India
Kohli’s Confusion On Bowling Choices Could Cost Us - Aakash Chopra
Here’s what Virat Kohli said at the pre-match press conference:
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)