RRR: Rabada, Rahul, Resistance
Kagiso Rabada is a topnotch bowler, there’s no doubt about this, but it always appears as though he saves his best for the big occasion and the strongest opponents. Rabada recognises the true worth of genuinely excellent batsmen and lifts his game, bringing a searing brilliance to the fore. Bowling extended spells, Rabada ended the day on 5 for 44, pinning India to the mat and holding them there for most of the day till KL Rahul mounted resistance, playing an innings of the highest class to keep India in the game.
The day did not begin well for India, with Rohit Sharma calling incorrectly at the toss and being put in on a surface that had plenty in it for the seamers. But the pitch had little to do with Rohit’s dismissal as he instinctively swivelled to pull Rabada and picked out the fielder at long leg. The pitch was blameless in the fall of the next wicket too as Yashasvi Jaiswal drove loosely at Nandre Burger, the debutant leftarm quick, and nicked off.
Shubman Gill also did not hang around much longer, Burger getting one to bounce a touch extra and the batsman gloved to the wicketkeeper down the leg side. At 24 for 3, India were in serious trouble in their latest quest to win a maiden Test series in South Africa. It could have been much worse as Shreyas Iyer offered a catch to Marco Jansen at point and was put down and in the very next over Tony de Zorzi let Virat Kohli off at square-leg, failing to hold onto a simple chance.
The inquisition continued, and even as Kohli played some assured shots, Shreyas struggled. There were umpteen occasions when he could have been dismissed, but somehow the pair added 68, the first significant partnership of the innings.
