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The Indian cricket team batters faced a tough challenge from South African pacers on Day 1 of the first Test in Centurion on Tuesday. Kagiso Rabada<\/a> struck with a five-wicket haul as top batters like Virat Kohli<\/a>, Rohit Sharma<\/a> could not deliver a big innings. With overcast conditions in Centurion, the South African pacers got bounce as well as lateral movement. South Africa is a place where India have never won any Test series, and the opening day of the current contest was not good for\u00a0 them either.<\/p>\n Shardul Thakur<\/a>, India’s no.8 batter, looked to be in good touch before he was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Gerald Coetzee<\/a> in the 44th over. During the mandatory concussion protocol, Thakur’s forehead showed swelling. Though Shardul resumed batting, he was again hit on the hand on a Kagiso Rabada delivery in the 47th over. On the next ball, Shardul fell on the score of 24 off 33 balls.<\/p>\n OMG that is so nasty, hope Thakur is ok #INDvsSA<\/a> #SAvIND<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Jsp4GuMmO1<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Hasnain Shah (@shahhasnain77) December 26, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Meanwhile, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma<\/a>‘s participation in the on-going first Test against India was thrown into jeopardy after he limped off the field with a left hamstring strain here on Tuesday. Bavuma went out of the field in the 20th over after chasing a drive from Virat Kohli off left-arm pacer Marco Jansen<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Scans have revealed a left hamstring strain. He (Bavuma) will undergo daily medical evaluations to determine his participation in the match,” said an update from Cricket South Africa (CSA).<\/p>\n Bavuma hobbled midway through that chase via extra cover region and soon walked off the ground with the help of the South African physio.<\/p>\n Dean Elgar<\/a>, who is retiring after this series, stood-in as captain in the absence of Bavuma.<\/p>\n Wiaan Mulder<\/a> replaced Bavuma on the field.<\/p>\n At the end of the lunch, India posted a total of 91\/3, with Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer<\/a> unbeaten, having a partnership of 67 runs.<\/p>\n After winning the toss, the hosts sent India to bat first. However, the Proteas won’t regret their decision, as they successfully dominated the first session in Centurion.<\/p>\n Yashasvi Jaiswal<\/a> (17 runs from 37 balls) and Rohit Sharma (5 runs from 14) opened for the visitors but both of them failed to make a mark and collapsed in front of the Proteas pacers.<\/p>\n One of the main disappointments in the first session was Shubman Gill<\/a>‘s (2 runs from 12 balls) sloppy performance. After early upsets, the visitors rely on Kohli (33 runs from 47 balls) and Iyer (31 runs from 46 balls) to make a solid partnership and sit in the driver’s seat after the end of day one.<\/p>\n With PTI and ANI inputs<\/p>\n Topics mentioned in this article<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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