IND VS SA 2nd Test: KL Rahul rocks amidst middle ruins

KL Rahul en route his 50 on Day One of the second Test against SA at Wanderers yesterday. Pic/AFP

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's saga of failures compounded a shoddy batting performance by India even as stand-in skipper KL Rahul impressed with a defiant show amid the ruins on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa here on Monday.

Rahul's patient 50-run knock on a day when India missed Virat Kohli due to back spasms and Ravichandran Ashwin's cavalier 46 at the rear end ensured that India scored 202 in their first innings on a bouncy Wanderers track. At stumps, Mohammed Shami sent back Aiden Markram even as Dean Elgar (11 batting) and Keegan Peterson (14 batting) took South Africa to 35 for 1. It could have been two down had Rishabh Pant snapped Peterson off Jasprit Bumrah, which seemed a regulation catch.

Siraj hobbles off

Worse, Mohammed Siraj hobbled off with what looked like a hamstring strain and if it's bad news, then India would be left with four bowlers. However, a lot of blame should go to India's batters as some like Pujara didn't show intent to score while others like Rahane seemed completely short of confidence. It prompted the legendary Sunil Gavaskar to say it as it is on air, "I think the next innings will be their last chance."

South Africa's Marco Jansen (left) with teammate Duanne Olivier during the first day of the second Test in Johannesburg. Pic/AFP

Having given up hopes to play for England, Duanne Olivier (3-64 in 17 overs), playing his first game for South Africa in three years, dismissed Pujara (3 off 33 balls) and Rahane (0) off successive deliveries to make it difficult for the Indians. Marco Jansen (4-31 in 17 overs), with his giant frame, created awkward lengths for every Indian batter while Kagiso Rabada (3-64 in 17.1 overs), despite not being at his best, got wickets when it mattered.

Majestic KL

In his first game as captain, Rahul concentrated hard as he played 133 deliveries. He was peppered with short balls. He would sway to some and duck the others while pulling the ones that he could. His back-foot driving was majestic and he rode the bounce while going for the flashy cut shots.

Such is beauty of sport that Rahul, who till five months ago wasn't supposed to start as an opener in England, is now being groomed as an all-format India captain. He had a nice little partnership of 42 runs with Hanuma Vihari (20) before an inspirational close-in catch from Rassie Van der Dussen at short leg sent the latter back.

1
No. of times Ajinkya Rahane has been dismissed for a duck in Test cricket

Brief scores
India 202 (KL Rahul 50, R Ashwin 46; M Jansen 4-31, D Olivier 3-64, K Rabada 3-64) v South Africa 35-1

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