SA vs IND, 1st Test: Gritty KL Rahul rescues India after Kagiso Rabada’s 5-star show on rain-affected Day 1
KL Rahul’s sensational return to red-ball cricket and Kagiso Rabada’s sensational entry into an elite club.
Were the highlights of a hard-fought opening day of the Boxing Day Test between India and South Africa in Centurion. Despite rain playing spoilsport, allowing only 59 overs of play on Tuesday, the two teams battled hard, showing signs of what is to come in the next two weeks in the 2-Test series.
KL Rahul, who took up the new role of a wicketkeeper in Test cricket to warrant a return to the Test side, rose to the occasion as he hit an unbeaten 70, helping India huff and puff past 200 on Day 1. India’s big names, including captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, failed to convert their starts into big knocks but Rahul stood like a rock, holding the Indian innings together even as South Africa weren’t at their best with the ball in extremely helpful conditions.
KL Rahul, who had hit a match-winning Test hundred in Centurion 2 years ago, resumed his love affair with the SuperSport Park after returning to the Test for the first time since he was dropped during the Border-Gavaskar series at home against Australia earlier in 2023. Rahul remained unbeaten on 70 as India went to Stumps at 208 for 8.
Rahul will have Mohammed Siraj for company as India would look to get to 250 and beyond to give their pacers and lone spinner R Ashwin something to work with.
Kagiso Rabada was the star of the show with the ball for South Africa as the express pacer became the 7th South African bowler to pick up 500 international wickets. Rabada picked his maiden five-wicket Test haul against India and his 14th overall as he led a young Proteas pace attack that exploited the overcast conditions on Tuesday.
RAHUL SHINES ON RETURN
KL Rahul, who was dropped after the first two Tests in the 4-Test series against Australia in February-March, returned to the XI, taking up the role of a wicketkeeper-batter after his success in the ODI World Cup with the gloveman’s role.
India opted for two all-rounders in R Ashwin and Shardul Thakur, knowing they have an in-form and dependable batter in KL Rahul in the middle-order and the Lucknow Super Giants captain did not disappoint.
Rahul walked into bat when India were 92 for 4. He joined hands with Virat Kohli, but lost his former captain with Kagiso Rabada removing the star batter right after Lunch. Iyer and Kohli had added 68 runs for the 4th wicket but their wickets in quick succession pegged India back.
R Ashwin, who got an overseas Test after Ravindra Jadeja was diagnosed with neck injury, managed just 8 before getting a ripper from Rabada.
India were 121 for 6 before Rahul and Shardul Thakur joined hands. The two batters added 42 runs for the 7th wicket even as the pitch in Centurion was getting spicier as the day progressed.
KL Rahul showcased his class as he looked the most comfortable Indian batter. He was leaving the ball on both line and length and attacking the loose balls without fail. Rahul took a couple of blows when the South Africa pacers targetted him with short balls, but he braved the pain and carried on.
Rahul also played wonderfully well with lower-order batters Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada as he race past his 50, hitting 2 sixes and 10 boundaries.
Shardul took a blow to the helmet and was dismissed soon after by Rabada, who completed a fine five-wicket haul.
RABADA’S BRILLIANCE ENDS KOHLI STAY
Earlier in the day, India’s top-order was blown away. Rohit Sharma fell to the temptation of pulling a short ball from Rabada. His strength in white-ball cricket – the pull shot — proved to be his nemesis once again in Tests.
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal looked uncomfortable during their short stays. Both were dismissed by debutant left-arm pacer Nandre Burger.
Virat Kohli looked in complete control for his 64-ball 38 and Shreyas Iyer was able to guage the pace of the pitch and the conditions. However, both the batters were undone by the brilliance of Rabada early in the second session.