India vs South Africa, 1st Test Live: IND vs SA Live Updates, Commentary, News and More

"Pretty special for me, rather just smile than cry (this is his farewell series) and enjoy the moment. Contribute to this team is what I've always wanted to do. Hasn't worked out sometimes, but it did here, massive effort to pick 20 wickets. It was a juicy wicket. Got to keep nice and simple, batting in Tests you have to simplify things. Focus on the ball, play nice and straight, play late. Wickets like that, one's got your name on it, got to ride the wave when it's in your favour. Good partnerships with Tony, David and Jans. You need fast bowlers and spinner potentially to take 20 wickets, need guys firing. KG was amazing, and a guy like Nandre just came to the fore. Awesome to see his performances. Really great team performance going forward. Glad to leave here on a high," Dean Elgar said. 

"We were not good enough to win. Having put into bat, KL batted well to get us that score but then we didn't exploit the conditions with the ball and then again didn't show up today with the bat. If we have to win Test matches, we have to come together collectively and we didn't do that. Guys have come here before, we know what to expect and everyone has their own plan. Our batters were challenged and we didn't adapt well. This is a boundary-scoring ground, we saw them score many but we need to understand the opposition and their strengths as well. We didn't bat well in both innings, that's why we stand here. Not too many positives to finish the game within 3 days, but KL showed what we need to do on this sort of pitch. Our bowlers, a lot of these guys haven't been here before so I don't want to be too critical. Important for us to regroup, we go through these times as sportsmen and we need to be ready for the next Test now," Rohit Sharma said. 

And that's the Test. India have been rolled over in under 35 overs in the second innings. South Africa win the Boxing Day Test inside three days. Talk about domination. Talk about drama—outstanding work from the hosts. 

SA lead the series 1-0. 

Nandre Burger picked up his fourth wicket as Mohammed Siraj walks back after scoring four runs. India are 121/9

Jasprit Bumrah departs without opening his tally. India are 113/8 and are on the verge of an embarassing defeat in Centurion.

Shardul Thakur gets an outside edge to gully. Thakur c Bedingham b Rabada 2(8). India 105/7 trailing by 58 runs.

Virat Kohli gets to fifty with a boundary! King Kohli is the lone warrior out there for India. How many times has it happened in Indian cricket?

Ravichandran Ashwin plays one straight to backward point for a golden duck. Ashwin c Bedingham b Nandre Burger 0(1). India 96/6 trailing by 67 runs

India's first-innings centurion is back in the pavilion as he flashed one outside off and India is in deep trouble. Rahul c Markram b Nandre Burger 4(24). India - 96/5 trailing by 67 runs

Marco Jansen cleans up Shreyas Iyer. India are 72/4 after 17.5 overs. India trail by 91 runs.

The players are back on the field for the final session of the day's play.

The umpires have signalled 'Tea'.

Shubman Gill departs after a good start. Marco Jansen gets the big breakthrough as the ball hits the lower part of the wickets. Agony for Gill, as India are three down. Shreyas Iyer joins Kohli.

A beautiful cover drive by Shubman Gill brings the 50 on board for India. 

An elegant punch straight down the ground gets Kohli going with a boundary.

Yashasvi Jaiswal tries to leave, but the ball eventually catches a flicker off his gloves on its way to the keeper. Nandre Burger strikes courtesy of that extra bounce from the Centurion surface. Indian two down.

Shubman Gill gets off the mark with a boundary. He follows it up with another boundary on the leg side, this time with an elegant flick.

Rabada gets the Indian skipper with an absolute pearler. South Africa strike early.

Trailing by 163, Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, have come out to the centre for the second innings.

Temba Bavuma won't come out to bat, which means that Burger's wicket, which was ninth for SA was the last wicket to fall. As a result of the same, the Proteas have been bundled out for 408, and take a lead of 163 runs. India will come out to bat soon. Back shortly.

Gerald Coetzee took Prasidh Krishna to cleaners by smashing him all the way for a six. The ball went miles away, and was as clean as a whistle. Following the shot, a cold stare moment took place between them, although the matter ended right then and there. A few balls later, Coetzee was dismissed off Ashwin, getting caught by Siraj.

Peach of a delivery by Bumrah to get the rid of Kagiso Rabada

Players are back on the field for afternoon session.

As both Ravichandran Ashwin and India were struggling to take wickets in the first session, the game saw a dramatic event about to take place. Marco Jansen, who was at the non-striker's end, got a warning from Ash for being out of his crease to take unfair advantage before a ball has been delivered. As it 'stands', Ashwin has been known for affecting a run-out at the non-striker's end previously during the Indian Premier League in his infamous incident with Jos Buttler.

See Ashwin warning Jansen here:

The morning session concludes with India taking a couple of wickets, but not before the hosts were able to score 136 runs. 

Ravi Ashwin, after getting two catches dropped off his bowling, finally strikes to send Gerald Coetzee packing. Siraj takes a good catch in the inner field.

Shubman Gill drops a take at first slip. Gerald Coetzee gets a lifeline.

Shardul Thakur, India's golden arm, strikes as Dean Elgar departs after an astonishing 185. The batter reviews for caught behind, but to no avail, as India finally strike, courtesy of Thakur's fiery bouncer.

Proteas haven't lost a wicket since morning, and that has taken their lead well over 100 runs.

India took the second new ball in the 82nd over. Can the fortunes finally turn their favour?

Dean Elgar brings up his 150 in his farewell series with a beautiful cover drive. He has surely anchored the entire batting line up in this inning.

After Siraj-Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna and Ashwin have been introduced as the first change.

Jasprit Bumrah will continue the proceedings. A couple of slips and a gully are in place first up. 'Play' says the umpire. Marco Jansen takes the strike.

Hello folks. Here's our initial greetings ahead of the play on Day Three of the Boxing Day Test between India and South Africa. 

The second day belonged completely to the South Africans, as they bundled India out for 245, and by the end of it, have generated an 11-run lead. While Kagiso Rabada outshone on the opening day, it was for Dean Elgar's unbeaten 140 that became the highlight of the following day.

With five men down at the score of 256, Indian bowlers looked fairly helpless on Day 2. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd Siraj, the leaders of the pack, grabbed a couple of scalps each. Debutant Prasidh Krishna also managed his maiden wicket by sending Kyle Verrynne packing cheaply.

Now, the most important part of today's play will be the weather. Unlike the previous days, an on-time start is expected with lesser chances of rain and sun being forecasted to be bright enough to not enforce a bad light stoppage. 

Can the Proteas elongate this lead to a mighty one, or will the Indian bowlers bounce back. All the action coming up on CricTracker. Stay tuned.

That's it for today. The light hasn't improved and the umpires have called stumps on Day 2. South Africa are comfortably ahead of India leading by 11 runs with well-set Dean Elgar at the crease and having five wickets in hand. The hosts will look to extend their lead beyond 100 on Day 3 while India will hope to bundle them out before their lead crosses the 50-run mark. The upcoming promises to be another thrilling day of Test cricket. Do join us tomorrow for all the updates on Day 3. Till then, see ya!

Players going off the field due to bad light. South Africa are 256/5 after 66 overs. Leading by 11 runs. Dean Elgar 140*, Marco Jansen 3*

India appeal and India review. They find joy yet again, this time around, it's the debutant. Prasidh Krishna keeps it outside off, slightly shorter which Kyle Verreynne looks to cut and has gloved it to KL Rahul. South Africa are now five down with the lead not reading a lot. 

Kyle Verreynne drives and drives well. Felt like a boundary the second it left the bat. South Africa are now in the lead at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. 

India finally have some joy after Dean Elgar and David Bedingham were scoring freely with a 111-run stand. Mohammed Siraj ran through Bedingham's defence with a fuller delivery that slightly came in. South Africa, four down for 244. 

What a terrific knock from the debutant. Bedingham hits his maiden half-century in 80 deliveries. Raises his bat in jubilation as South Africa are in total control of the Test.

South Africa are piling on the misery on India as they're 213/3 after 52 overs and trailing by 32 runs. Dean Elgar (120*) and David Bedingham (41*). Partnership 100* (138) for the fourth wicket

Dean Elgar sees the team through without any trouble throughout the session. Courtesy of his unbeaten knock, 145 runs were scored in the session (33 overs). We'll back shortly for the final session of the Day Two.

The batter has definitely nicked it, but did the ball carry to the keeper is the main question here. The umpires have gone up, and the TV replay clearly shows ball bumps before landing in the gloves. Bedingham survives.

In his last Test series, Dean Elgar steps up to the occasion and scores a fantastic century. He has been absolutely sensational throughout the innings.

South Africa have lost three wickets to bring up 150 runs on the board, but that has not stopped them from inching closer towards the lead. Currently, they're behind by less than 100 runs, and thus, India will have to rethink their strategies to be back in the game.

India's ever-energetic cricketer Virat Kohli was desperate for the team to strike with another wicket. In order to change luck, Virat went for a superstitious move by replacing the position of bails on the stumps at the striker's end. Surprisingly, Bumrah struck after Kohli's 'spell' as de Zorzi got caught at the third slip off Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Watch the video here:

De Zorzi falls prey to Jasprit Bumrah, as Y Jaiswal takes a good catch at the third slip.

A good partnership between de Zorzi and Elgar brings up the 100 on board for the Proteas. South Africa now trail by 145 runs in their first innings.

Live action resumes for the post-lunch session.

The first session comes to an end, as the umpires have called for LUNCH.

As India were nine down, KL Rahul was batting unbeaten on 95, just five shy off his second century at this venue.

Playing his comeback Test, Rahul was eager to reach his hundred, and rightly so. Prasidh Krishna, India's no. 11, was on strike, as the ball went down the leg. The proactive Rahul showed great presence of mind and grabbed a 'bye-run' to get back on strike. A few balls later, Rahul hit a massive hit into the crowd, thereby reaching his seventh ton overseas. 

Watch the video here:

A confident appeal turned down by the umpire. India review after a bit of discussion. However, the replay shows it hit Dean Elgar's pads on its way to the keeper. IND lose a review.

Aiden Markram gets an outside edge off a Siraj peach, as KL Rahul does his job behind the wickets. India and Siraj strike early. Tony de Zorzi replaces Markram.

Proteas openers Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar have taken their respective positions. Jasprit Bumrah will be opening. Meanwhile, KL Rahul is keeping the wickets. 

Three slips in place.

INDIA - 245/10

KL Rahul - 101; Virat Kohli - 38

Kagiso Rabada - 5/59; Nandre Burger 3/50

SOUTH AFRICA trail by 245 runs

A beautiful delivery by Nandre Burger gets the rid off KL Rahul, as India have been bundled out for 245.

A big hit into the crowd, and KL Rahul gets to his century. He reaches the landmark in just 133 balls. Surely, a hundred that will be minted in history books. This is his second century at the Centurion, and both of them have come in a Boxing Day Test. He has been the only hope for India so far. How long can he take this?

WATCH THE SHOT THAT GOT RAHUL TO HIS HUNDRED HERE:

Gerald Coetzee strikes, as Mohd Siraj has to make the long walk back. India are nine down.

A magnificent six off a short ball by Rabada takes KL Rahul to 95*. He is just five short of his second century in Centurion.

India resume their innings from 208/8 in 58 overs. Gerald Coetzee concedes a couple of runs in the first over.

As per the latest reports, the match is expected to start in about five minutes from now.

Good afternoon people. Welcome to Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Centurion. Yesterday, the Day was called off after bad lights enforced Stumps.

Speaking of the action from Day 1, India lost eight wickets, with KL Rahul unbeaten and batting with Mohd Siraj, while Kagiso Rabada took five wickets to rattle the opposition's batting unit. 

The start of second day has officially been delayed due to wet outfield. However, the latest updates suggest that the game should start soon, as the covers are coming off.

The Boxing Day Test between India and South Africa kicked off at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bowl first on an overcast morning. South Africa were all over India in the first hour but a 68-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer slightly steadied the ship. 

KL Rahul walked in after Iyer was sent packing by a Rabada peach. South Africa's Marco Jansen was bowling gas and sledged Rahul who defended a delivery straight back to the left-arm pacer just before Tea. However, Rahul's reaction took all the spotlight in Centurion. 

And that's that. Play has been called off at SuperSport Park in Centurion. India, in their recovery after losing six wickets for just 121, found a bit of momentum as KL Rahul held the fort with his resilient 70*.

With just 59 overs on Day 1, the rest of the four days of the Centurion Test will be 98 overs. Here's wishing the rain gods are a little kind going forward as this one promises to be an exciting Test. 

The umpires have stopped the game due to bad light. India are 208/8 as KL Rahul has been sensational with the bat so far. 

KL Rahul picks it over cover to pick up another boundary. He is making the difference!

Bumrah departs after playing 19 deliveries in the middle. Marco Jansen cleans him up as India are 191/8

Cometh the hour, cometh the man! KL Rahul brings up his half-century with a stylish six. He will now aim to convert it into a century as India need him to play a noteworthy innings in Centurion.

India are 176/7 as the umpires have called for Tea.

The physios are out in the middle to check out KL Rahul. He tried to flick the ball but it hit his hands before hitting his face. Nothing serious as he is expected to continue batting.

Shardul Thakur drives but it went straight to short cover The all-rounder departed after scoring 24 runs as the misery continues for team India. Kagiso Rabada picked up his fifth wicket in the process as India are 164/7

Shardul Thakur is undergoing some trouble after the ball hit his helmet. The physio is getting him checked, but it is taking longer than usual. The icepacks have also come out, and this has enforced a brief pause in the play. The extras utilized the time to bring drinks on the field, as play resumes after four or five minutes.

See the beamer that troubled Thakur here:

Reaching the 150-run landmark hasn't been easy, though, as India have lost as many as six of their key batters in the process.

Shardul Thakur isn't shying away from playing his shots. He'll try to rebuild with a partnership with Rahul.

KL Rahul is keeping the innings alive with his confident strokeplay.

On the last ball of the 35th over, Rabada strikes again to send Ashwin packing. He has four now.

Ravi Ashwin gets going with a couple of boundaries to his name early on in the innings.

Virat Kohli succumbs to a beauty off Kagiso Rabada. The pacer is on fire.

A beautiful delivery by Kagiso Rabada dismantles the middle stump of Iyer, and he has to make the long walk back.

Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli will resume the play from where they left of.

Umpires have called for lunch break. Live action resumes shortly.

Earlier in the day, as the start of the game was delayed due to rain, the groundsmen did the hard yards to make sure the start of the play is possible at the earliest. As per the pictures, it is clear that hair-dryers and other heating equipments to dry the surface. Due to the hardwork put in by the staff at Centurion, the play delay was cut short to just 30 mins, and a very short interruption was seen.

Ace batter Shubman Gill has been dismissed, as Burger-Verreynne duo does the job yet again. Third wicket for India in the session already.

Y Jaiswal catches the outside edge, as Kyle Verreynne takes a simple catch behind the stumps. Excellent piece of bowling by Nandre Burger to get his maiden Test wicket.

Rohit Sharma is gone, as he gets caught at deep fine leg by Nandre Burger. SA strike early.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma have started for India, while Kagiso Rabada has taken the ball in hand. Live action begins on the Boxing Day.

Skippers Temba Bavuma and Rohit Sharma are out in the middle for the toss. 

The update from the centre is that South Africa will bowl first on the Boxing Day.

At the toss, Bavuma said,

While the Boxing Day Test is arguably the biggest day in the cricketing calendar, many are unaware of the significance it holds.

CLICK HERE to know more about the history and importance of the BOXING DAY.