Virat Kohli's first Test century against South Africa helped India to 255 for five at the end of first day’s play after MS Dhoni opted to bat first at the New Wanderers Stadium. Sent in at No.4, after the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, the 25-year-old shaped the visitors’ innings with a carefully compiled 119. The day belonged to the young India batsman, who displayed maturity as he built is innings before departing in the last session. Taking the innings forward, Ajinkya Rahane negotiated the disciplined SA attack with patience along with his captain at the other end. He was batting on 43 with Dhoni on 17 at stumps.
Earlier, India lost openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan with just 24 runs on the board. Dhawan pulled Dale Steyn’s short ball from outside the off-stump only to find Imran Tahir near fine-leg to depart for 13. And seven runs later, his opening partner, who was earlier dropped at short-leg off Morne Morkel, edged a full-length delivery from fast bowler to AB de Villiers behind the stumps to return for six. Morkel, who had a posed a few questions to the Indian batsmen and tested them with the short ball, bowled a maiden wicket.
Virat Kohli joined Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle to stabilise the Indian innings. Kept on their toes by the Steyn and Morkel-led pace attack, the pair played watchfully. While the SA bowlers hit the deck hard, the youngsters stood their ground and bided their time to acquaint themselves to the conditions. Having changed gears to the longest format of the game, Kohli scored at a steady pace. Without losing any further wickets, they took India to 70 for two at lunch. Kohli kept the scoreboard ticking, while Pujara was content playing the supporting role. Tested by the SA attack, they put up a determined performance and displayed their mettle.
They chipped away at the bowling while collecting boundaries whenever the opportunity presented itself. Kohli reached his 50 with a boundary through mid-on off Imran Tahir.
However, the blossoming partnership came to an unfortunate end when Pujara, who was sent back by Kohli, could not make it back to his crease in time and was run out. With the partnership ending for 89, Rohit Sharma came out to the middle.
Continuing to garner runs off the SA attack, Kohli displayed his wide array of shots. His back-foot punch off Jacques Kallis straight down the ground was particularly remarkable. The partnership was worth 38 and India were on 151 when Rohit nicked Vernon Philander to the wicketkeeper and returned to the dressing room for 14. Two deliveries later, Ajinkya Rahane got off the mark with a boundary off the pacer. In the next over, he dispatched Tahir for two successive boundaries – after slamming one through mid-wicket, he sent the next one straight down the ground.
Working his way through the SA bowling at unhurried pace, Kohli inched towards his fifth Test ton. It was off JP Duminy that he reached the three-figure mark. He became the eighth Indian to score a century in the Rainbow Nation.
The Indian batsmen had particularly milked Tahir as they built the innings. India were comfortably placed, but the blossoming partnership between Kohli and Rahane was halted with the former departing for 119. Kohli got out hitting Kallis to Duminy, bringing Dhoni to the middle. The India captain and Rahane then continued to add to the total.
With the visitors on 227 for five, Steyn was back in action with the new ball. Dhoni drove him through the covers to collect four from the over. The relentless Steyn-Philander pair posed questions and bowled a probing line, but the Rahane-Dhoni duo watchfully negotiated them. Morkel was brought in to bowl the last over by Graeme Smith. He too maintained a good line and length, but the Indians stayed their ground and he finished the day with a maiden to end proceedings for the day.
