South Africa script record by not losing a wicket in the opening session of the 2nd Test

The much anticipated second Test at Centurion kicked off earlier today. Hosts South Africa won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram did a commendable job to take the hosts without a loss of wicket into the Lunch break. The first session saw India bowl 27 overs with South Africa standing pretty at 78/0 with Markram scoring his second Test fifty. Elgar has been tested a few times but there has been little for India to be upbeat about just yet.

With a strong batting display, this is the first time the Proteas didn’t lose a wicket in the opening session of a home Test against India. In the previous 9 instances where South Africa batted first in a home Test against India, they lost their first wicket in an average of 21 minutes. The longest they batted before losing their first wicket in those 9 Tests was 71 minutes in the 1997 Cape Town Test.

This is the first time South Africa didn't lose a wicket in the opening session of a home Test against India. #SAvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 13, 2018

Surprising changes in the Indian squad

Since morning, the hot topic of discussion had been India’s team selection.  At the toss, Virat Kohli looked surprised as their no grass present on the pitch. He said that there was grass on the pitch last evening. He also confirmed that India has made three changes to their playing XI with KL Rahul replacing Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Wriddhiman Saha sitting out with an injury to make way for Parthiv Patel.

Trailing the series, this Centurion Test impels India to strike and level the series for some mental edge. India looked to have the chance of improving on their dreadful record in South Africa at Newlands but a terrific bowling effort from South Africa, especially Vernon Philander who took six wickets in the second innings, saw India collapse and lose.