India date luck on Day 1 at Johannesburg, manage just 187

In conditions tailor-made for pacers, which prompted both sides to go in with five fast bowlers, Virat Kohli elected to bat.

Wanderers, Johannesburg — A venue that is quite close to the heart of Indian fans. In 1996-97, Rahul Dravid stroked his maiden Test hundred here. Ten years later, Sourav Ganguly marked his return to international cricket here. In 2003, India’s campaign in the World Cup ended second-best at this very venue and four years after that, MS Dhoni would lift the inaugural World T20 trophy here.

India have not lost Test at Wanderers, managing draws in 1992-93, 1996-97 and 2013-14 and winning in 2006-07. Positive energies do play a role in attracting goodness. That is what happened on Day One of the third Test, it’s a different story that India failed to capitalise.

The coin listens to Kohli, finally

On a green surface at Wanderers, Virat Kohli called it right at the toss for the first time in this series. In conditions tailor-made for pacers, which prompted both sides to go in with five fast bowlers, Kohli elected to bat.

India batted fourth on both the previous Tests and lost. The reason might be understandable but does hint a missed opportunity.

A plumb, anyway

The ball snaked around. Vernon Philander, in the sixth over, got one to move back in, striking Cheteshwar Pujara in the front pad. It looked plumb but Ian Gould thought otherwise. South Africa reviewed and damn, it’s umpire’s call. Any other surface would have been devoid of such extra bounce.

Pujara 0 off 11 balls. The blockathon was still in its nascent stage.

A plumb, again

Lungi Ngidi’s third ball of his second over beats Pujara’s inside edge to his front pad. South Africa appeal reluctantly. The umpire goes by South Africa’s reluctance and they decide against a review. Replays suggest it would have been ‘three reds’. Pujara was caught plumb in front.

Two dots later, Pujara would complete his 50-ball 0. And another two balls, later…

…Kohli is dropped

Kagiso Rabada’s well directed bouncer beats Kohli, who is early into a pull, getting a leading edge. The ball balloons to mid-off where Philander drops a sitter. Very un-South Africa like. To add to the agony, Kohli exquisitely drives through cover point in the same over to get India past the thirty-mark (yeah, scoring was this tough!).

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Kohli is dropped, again

India were off to a positive start post lunch. Pujara, who got off the mark on his 54th ball, had struck back-to-back boundaries off Philander. Kohli looked set for a big one.

The first ball of 33rd over saw terrible cricket. Morne Morkel delivered a terrible ball, way outside off-stump, perhaps in a moment of madness, Kohli chased it to only get a bottom edge to AB de Villiers at third slip. The ball slipped through one of the safest pair of hands to give Kohli two runs.

Kohli survived a couple of inside edges and a few went past the outside ones. He eventually was caught by AB at third slip off Ngidi. India were 97 for 3.

A brilliant no-ball

Ajinkya Rahane and Pujara slowed down the proceedings. At some stage, the partnership run-rate dipped under one. Rahane, the man the nation believed was wronged, was in the middle. Here was his opportunity to prove the notions right.

Philander delivered one at good length and moved it away. Rahane went to fend it but was caught in two minds as the lateral movement did him and the nick landed to Quinton de Kock’s gloves.

Philander lived a Jasprit Bumrah moment. The third umpire made Rahane wait and it was judged a ‘no-ball’, nevertheless a brilliant one.

Replacing Rohit Sharma in the side, Rahane would later perish for nine. Rohit’s fans have an argument here. Rohit managed double digit scores in all four innings he played in South Africa.

Meanwhile, balls whizzing past outside edges continued to be the norm for the day.

Shami dropped

Mohammed Shami can wield the wood. South Africans know it, especially after the Centurion second innings. Shami pulled Andile Phehlukwayo in the air and substitute fielder Theunis de Bruyn dropped a difficult chance at mid-on. He leapt forward, got his palms but the effort was not good enough.

Ngidi misjudges

Nine down, Bhuvneshwar Kumar tries to maximise the scoring opportunities. He heaves wildly, the ball lobs over mid-on, Ngidi, stationed there, runs back only to misjudge and make a mess out of it. The next ball, Bhuvi just manages to chip over cover for two before stealing a 50th over ODI-like bye to retain strike.

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Bhuvi’s 30 harboured India to 187. Pujara got 50 and Kohli 54, the rest nine managed 27. Despite all that, only 187 could be managed. Though Pujara reckons it’s as good as 300. India minus luck today, imagine?

Bhuvi would later dismiss Aiden Markram in his second over and made the ball talk in the three overs he bowled, making a livid Michael Holding go, “I still don’t understand why would you drop him?”

The nation wants to know, Mr Holding. Perhaps no one has the answer, including Kohli and Ravi Shastri.

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