South Africa vs India, 1st Test, Day 2 Stats Review: KL Rahul's defiant ton, Elgar's dominating hundred and other stats

KL Rahul’s batting masterclass (101) rescued India as the visitors were bundled out for 245 in the first session of Day 2 in Centurion. Kagiso Rabada’s brilliant bowling display (5/59) in 20 overs and debutant Nandre Burger's fine spell (3/50) runs in 15.4 overs dismantled India’s batting line-up.

After India's batting concluded, South Africa commenced their innings in the first session. The Proteas quickly lost their first wicket when Aiden Markram, continuing his struggle against India in Tests, was dismissed by Siraj for five. Subsequently, Tony de Zorzi, carrying his ODI form into the Test arena against India, formed a solid 93-run partnership with Dean Elgar. Unfortunately, de Zorzi's innings was short-lived as he was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for 28 runs. Bumrah then continued to make an impact by removing Keegan Petersen for just two.

Debutant David Bedingham then played a significant role, scoring a half-century and contributing to a 131-run partnership with Elgar. Siraj managed to dismiss Bedingham for 56. Indian debutant Prasidh Krishna removed Kyle Verreynne, who scored just four. Dean Elgar, standing alone from one side, played a crucial innings, reaching a century. At Stumps on Day 2, Elgar remained unbeaten on 140, and South Africa have a 11-run lead.

Meanwhile, let us look at the stats and numbers from Day 2 of the 1st Test between South Africa and India:

2 - KL Rahul became the second Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in South Africa after Rishabh Pant who scored a century in Cape Town, 2022.

2 - KL Rahul now has the joint second-most centuries by an Indian batter in South Africa with Virat Kohli's two centuries. Sachin Tendulkar has five.

7 - KL Rahul now has the joint third-most centuries with Ajinkya Rahane (7) in Test cricket away from home for India among active players. The first and second are Virat Kohli (15) and Cheteshwar Pujara (9).

1 - KL Rahul became the only player with more than one century by a visiting batter in Tests in Centurion. The centuries list are:
     123(260) in 2021/22.
     101(133) in 2023/24.

101 - KL Rahul has the highest individual score as an Indian wicketkeeper in South Africa. The rest:
         100* - Rishabh Pant, 2022
          90 - MS Dhoni, 2010
          63 - Deep Dasgupta, 2001
          63 - Dinesh Karthik, 2007

55 - Kagiso Rabada now has 55 wickets in eight matches with an average of 16.81 and has four five-wicket hauls. 

36 - Dean Elgar has the third most 50+ scores for South Africa openers in Tests. Graeme Smith(63) and Gary Kirsten(42) are first and second.

15.58 - Aiden Markram has just scored 265 runs in 17 innings with an average of 15.58 against India. 

10 - Dean Elgar is the first South African batter to score a Test century against India in South Africa after 10 years. The last century was scored by Jacques Kallis in the Durban Test, in 2013.