This is the 28th Test match between South Africa and India – 16th in South Africa and fourth at Johannesburg.
MS Dhoni was leading India for the 50th time in a Test. He became first Indian and 14th player to do so. Incidentally, he also became first captain-wicketkeeper to appear in 50 Tests.
Dhoni opted to bat first after winning the toss. Since 2000, the toss-winning captain has opted to bat first on 12 out of 14 occasions at Johannesburg. On two occasions, the sides that asked opponents to bat first did so in 2000 and in 2006 (South Africa putting New Zealand in on both occasions).
Virat Kohli (119) made his fifth Test 100 in his 21st Test – his second outside India. This is also his highest score in Test cricket, beating the 116 he made against Australia at Adelaide in 2011-12.
This 100 was also Kohli’s sixth in international cricket in 2013. With this he equaled fellow teammate Shikhar Dhawan and South Africa’s AB de Villiers’ record of scoring most international 100s in 2013.
Kohli’s innings is now the highest by an Indian in his first innings against South Africa. Virender Sehwag held the previous record with 105 at Bloemfontein in 2001-02. Apart from these two, Pravin Amre (103) is the only other Indian to score a 100 on his first appearance against South Africa. Incidentally, both Sehwag and Amre were making their Test debut.
India’s total of 255 for five is their second-highest on the opening day of a Test in South Africa. The highest remains 372 for seven at Bloemfontein in 2001-02.
