South Africa vs India, 1st Test, Day 1 Stats Review: KL Rahul's gritty knock, Rabada's dominance and other stats

KL Rahul’s batting masterclass (70*) rescued India as the visitors scored 208/8 before the game was stopped due to rain on Day 1 of the first Test between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Kagiso Rabada’s brilliant bowling display (5/44) in 17 overs dismantled India’s batting line-up.

Early in the game, South Africa won the toss and chose to field on a greenish surface at SuperSport Park in Centurion, for the first Test of India's tour of South Africa. Rabada found the right lengths early on, surprising Rohit with a short ball that ended his innings. Debutant Nandre Burger made an immediate impact, claiming the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Facing early trouble at 24/3, Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli steadied the innings and stitched together a crucial 68-run partnership. 

Shreyas Iyer was dismissed cheaply for 31 runs by Rabada, which was followed by Virat Kohli's departure for 38. Ashwin contributed eight runs, while Shardul Thakur and KL Rahul steadied the innings with a 43-run partnership. However, Thakur fell for 24 to Rabada. KL Rahul held firm, reaching 70*. India managed 208 runs for 8 wickets before rain stopped play for the day, with Kagiso Rabada emerging as the pick of the bowlers. Nandre Burger and Marco Jansen chipped in with two and a wicket respectively.

Meanwhile, let us look at the stats and numbers from Day 1 of the 1st Test between South Africa and India 

13 - Kagiso Rabada dismissed Rohit Sharma for the 13th time and became the bowler who has dismissed him the most number of times in international cricket. 

14.22 - Rohit Sharma has scored just 128 runs in his last nine South African Test innings, averaging 14.22 with one duck.

5 - Kagiso Rabada has now bagged 14 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, tying him for fifth place on the list of most fifers for South African bowlers, a feat he shares with Hugh Tayfield. Dale Steyn tops the with 26 five-wicket hauls, followed by Allan Donald with 20. Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock sit comfortably in third and fourth place with 18 and 16 five-wicket hauls respectively.

500 - Kagiso Rabada completed 500 international wickets. 

3 - Kagiso Rabada has reached 500 international wickets in just 264 innings, becoming the third-fastest South African bowler to achieve the feat. Allan Donald remains the quickest, reaching the milestone in 229 innings, followed by Dale Steyn at 235.

3 - Virat Kohli has now amassed 1274 runs against South Africa in Tests, surpassing Rahul Dravid's tally of 1252 to become the third-highest Indian run-scorer against the Proteas in Tests. Sachin Tendulkar still reigns supreme with 1741 runs, while Virender Sehwag occupies the second spot with 1306 runs.

2 - Kagiso Rabada has now scalped 55 Test wickets at SuperSport Park, and became the second-highest wicket-taker for South Africa at the venue, surpassing Makhaya Ntini's tally of 54 Test wickets. Dale Steyn remains ahead with 59 wickets.

2 - KL Rahul has now scored 230 Test runs at SuperSport Park, and became the second-highest run-scorer by a visiting player at this venue, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara's tally of 228 runs. Virat Kohli remains ahead with 249 runs.

2 - KL Rahul scored a fifty-plus score (70*) and became the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score more than fifty runs at SuperSport Park. MS Dhoni had previously scored 90 runs against South Africa at this venue in 2010.