Meanwhile, the Ranji Trophy begins on January 5 and Devdutt Padikkal, the Karnataka batter, is looking to carry forward his impressive white-ball form. He spoke very candidly with Shashank Kishore on the IPL trade, his challenges, an illness that hampered his previous season and much more.
We will be back in a bit. Stay tuned.
Mohan : "Mukesh Kumar exhibited great control over line and length, he bowled as if he were playing on home ground. Mukesh should be the change bowler, not Prasidh from now on."
Mazher: "Why no comment so far on the pitch. No pitch report either to judge why would SA decide to bat first. Is it the pitch, Siraj or SA considering this as world cup, the issue? or combination of all." --- It's not an unplayable pitch. Definitely not a 55 all-out one. There has been movement on offer but the credit goes to the Indian bowlers as well for bowling the right lengths and the fielders to take every catch that came their way.
12.02pm What a first session we have had. South Africa won the toss but it all went downhill from their onwards. Siraj was on a roll, bowling nine overs on the trot and picking up 6 for 15. He has had similar spells in ODIs as well recently, but this one reminded me of one of those Stuart Broad spells. This is South Africa's lowest total since 1932, and the lowest by any team against India.
K Rabada c Iyer b Mukesh Kumar 5 (26m 13b 0x4 0x6) SR: 38.46
Four slips
Raj: "That was Gavaskar's last test, famous for his 96 in last inns"
Rahul: "How many more overs to go before lunch?" --- Given SA are nine down now, play can be extended by another 30 minutes
END OF OVER:23 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 55/9
- Kagiso Rabada5 (11b)
- Jasprit Bumrah8-1-25-2
- Mukesh Kumar2-2-0-1
N Burger c Jaiswal b Bumrah 4 (13m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 36.36
Sampath Bandarupalli: "Before Mohammed Siraj, only one Indian bowler bagged a five-wicket haul before lunch on day 1 - Maninder Singh vs Pakistan in Bangalore 1987." "India lost that Test," adds Rajesh
END OF OVER:22 | (maiden) | SA: 50/8
- Nandre Burger0 (6b)
- Kagiso Rabada4 (10b)
- Mukesh Kumar2-2-0-1
- Jasprit Bumrah7-1-20-1
Mufaddal K: "Wait... is this India vs Sri Lanka?!"
Around the wicket
END OF OVER:21 | 4 Runs | SA: 50/8
- Kagiso Rabada4 (10b)
- Nandre Burger0 (0b)
- Jasprit Bumrah7-1-20-1
- Mukesh Kumar1-1-0-1