Stand-in skipper KL Rahul's fighting half-century takes India to 202; Elgar, Petersen lead South Africa resistance
When Rahul Dravid retired from Test cricket in 2012 after the twin disasters in England and Australia, he left an Indian team that wasn't short on quality. But overseas, it lacked the spine to put up a fight when put in a tight corner.
A decade later, as coach, he has taken over a side that probably doesn't have the flair in batting of the team that he played for. But it more than makes up for it with an incredible amount of steel that has brought India on the doorstep of conquering the final frontier, South Africa, after conquering England and Australia.
The Monday fare at Wanderers was all about that grit and fight that has brought India so far. They lost their captain and best batsman Virat Kohli to upper back spasms in the morning, the pitch was the heady cocktail of seam and bounce, and the total contribution of Nos. 3, 4 and 5 - considered the backbone of a batting unit - made a cumulative contribution of 23.
Still, they found heroes from likely and unlikely corners to post a total of 202, which can be comfortably considered a fighting one. More so, if you have a pace quartet led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami on a juicy pitch which is supposed to quicken up.
South Africa, at 35-1 at stumps, will certainly not breathe easy, even if they believe that they are very much in the game. The fact that Mohammed Siraj had a hamstring pull late in the day, though, could work in the hosts' favour, if he is unable to bowl on Tuesday.
The South African attack --which got an injection of pace in the form of Duanne Ollivier --looked way more organized than the first Test in Centurion. Even after Indian openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal had dealt with the first hour, they did not lose heart and kept attacking with the short delivery with the occasional sprinkling of the fuller one.
Mayank fell after the first drinks break. Cheteshwar Pujara (3) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) failed again, unable to deal with the pace and bounce, while Kohli's replacement Hanuma Vihari scratched around for a 20 before falling to another short ball.
But there was Rahul, the stand-in captain, a Zen-like warrior, ready to ride the storm. He will score bigger runs than the 50 that he managed on Monday, but this was an innings that he will remember for a long time.
He faced 133 balls, which itself is a good enough indicator of the patience that he showed on this difficult track. Unburdened by the mantle of captaincy, he was absolutely clear in his thought process, knowing which one to play and which one to leave.
The drives were crisp, the back-foot play immaculate, and the only mistake that he committed was the one which brought about his dismissal. Left-arm pacer Marco Jansen's (4/31) delivery rose steeply and Rahul couldn't keep his pull down.
At 116-5, things could have got much worse for India, but Ravichandran Ashwin decided to justify his allrounder's billing. He showed courage and didn't mind going over the top when the ball was pitched up. He wasn't exactly comfortable against the short ball, but the offie found a way to survive and score a quickfire 46 that gave India the oxygen to fight on.
Add to that the contributions of Shami and Bumrah and India had a score which was more than their first-innings total the last time in Johannesburg. Or at the Oval a few months ago.
1/8:Four-wicket haul for Jansen
<p>Rookie bowler Marco Jansen took four wickets as South Africa bowled India out for 202 in their first innings on the opening day of the second Test at the Wanderers on Monday. (Reuters Photo)</p>
2/8:Indian batsmen disappoint after opting to bat
<p>The 21-year-old Jansen, playing in only his second Test, returned impressive figures of 4-31 in 17 overs after India had won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that they expected to offer rewards for the batsmen. (ANI Photo)</p>
3/8:Elgar-Petersen negotiate well after early blow
<p>South Africa were 35-1 in reply at the close of play, with captain Dean Elgar (11 not out) and Keegan Petersen (14 not tout) to return on Tuesday. (AFP Photo)</p>
4/8:Shami removes Markram early
<p>Opener Aiden Markram was removed early for seven as the home team began their reply, caught leg before wicket by Mohammed Sami as he missed a straight delivery. (Reuters Photo)</p>
5/8:Kohli blow for India in second Test
<p>India suffered a blow before the start when captain Virat Kohli pulled out of the Test with an upper back strain, but stand-in skipper KL Rahul made 50 as he attempted to lead from the front on a spongy wicket. (BCCI Photo)</p>
6/8:Fine knock by Ashwin
<p>Ravichandran Ashwin added a potentially valuable 46 but overall it proved a disappointing day for the batsmen after the tourists’ dominant performance in the first Test in Pretoria last week, which India won by 113 runs. (AFP Photo)</p>
7/8:Jansen sends Mayank back early
<p>Jansen took the opening wicket on Monday, inducing Mayank Agarwal into a fine edge for 26 and then adding Rahul’s wicket after he played a rare poor shot, hooking the ball to fine leg where Kagiso Rabada made a superb diving catch. The tall left-arm quick also snagged Rishabh Pant for 17 before Ashwin hit a ball straight into the sky for Petersen to take one of three catches. (Reuters Photo)</p>
