KL Rahul's steadfast knock anchors India to 208/8 after Kagiso Rabada's 5-fer in 1st SA vs IND Test

Team India had a challenging first day of the opening Test against South Africa in Centurion, which was salvaged to some extent by KL Rahul's determined performance with the bat, guiding the team to 208/8 before rain halted the play early.

The Indian team, electing to bat first, experienced a rocky start as they quickly lost their top order, including captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill, all departing with the team's total still below 25. However, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer managed to stabilize the innings with a critical 68-run partnership, guiding India to a safer position by lunch.

Post-lunch, the game took another twist as South Africa's Kagiso Rabada unleashed a formidable spell, causing India to falter from 92/3 to 121/6. During this period, Rabada also completed his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Amidst this collapse, KL Rahul emerged as India's most resilient batter, holding his ground firmly at one end. His commendable effort saw him become the sole Indian player to score a half-century in the match. Demonstrating patience and skill, Rahul, who remained unbeaten on 70, played a crucial role in guiding the lower order and pushing India's score beyond the 200-run mark.

As the rain started to pour down, bringing an abrupt end to the day's play, India's score stood at 208/8. Rahul, along with Mohammed Siraj, will be instrumental in extending India's total to a more competitive score on a pitch that has favoured fast bowlers. India will be looking to capitalize on the remaining two wickets and Rahul's steadfast batting on day two to bolster their position in the match.

Rohit Sharma falls to Kagiso Rabada's short-ball trap in India vs South Africa 1st Test