Twitter Reactions: India manage to pull things back at the end of the day after stupendous fifties by Amla, Markram

The Centurion crowd witnessed a spectacular day of cricket as both teams locked horns for the 2nd time. While South Africa managed to dominate a large part of the day, India made amends in the final hour with a handful of wickets.

Skipper Faf du Plessis got a chance to make the call again as the Proteas elected to bat first. Lungisani Ngidi came in place of the injured Dale Steyn in the playing XI. As for India, they made three changes. Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha and Bhuvneshwar Kumar made way for KL Rahul, Parthiv Patel and Ishant Sharma.

Batting first, South Africa were off to a stupendous start. The Indian pacers failed to create any kind of trouble for the openers. Both Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram were in splendid touch. They managed to go one whole session without a wicket.

The 85-run partnership for the first wicket finally ended as Ravichandran Ashwin got the first breakthrough. Hashim Amla came in at No.3 and played some wonderful shots. Both him and Markram put up 63 runs for the second wicket.

However, luck wasn’t with the youngster who had slammed his second Test fifty. He fell six runs short of his hundred as Ashwin got another wicket. AB de Villiers was struggling at the crease for a while early on. While he tried to prolong his innings, he ended up playing an inside edge on to the wicket.

Amla who was looking in for a massive knock got run out in what was a hasty call by Du Plessis. Hardik Pandya effected a brilliant run out as South Africa started losing way after that. Quinton de Kock was dismissed for a golden duck as Ashwin got his third.

The madness wasn’t over yet as another freak run out in the form of Vernon Philander meant South Africa were reduced to 251/6. Luckily for the Proteas, no other wickets fell on the day as they were placed on at stumps on Day 1. Twitter went from questioning the squad selection by Kohli to trolling the Indian bowlers. However, by the end of the day, South Africa were trolled for doing something they’re infamously popular as.

Here we present to you some of the amazing Twitter reactions from Day 1:

Du Plessis is the opposite of Donald. Donald cost SA by not running. Du Plessis by running.

— Alagappan V (@IndianMourinho) January 13, 2018

the proteas have thrown away the Test #SAvIND

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) January 13, 2018

Jadeja making a point that he’s not in the playing XI #SAvIND

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 13, 2018

Would you have imagined a spinner taking the new ball on day 1 in South Africa? This pitch has confounded everyone.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 13, 2018

This is not a typical South African pitch, India are well and truly in the game. Also Rohit can't have a better opportunity than this to enhance his overseas record.

— Abhishek (@Sajjanlaunda) January 13, 2018

#Philander was running to get a kiss from @faf1307 for his Newland's 5-fer ??? #SAvInD

— Harsha (@Hramblings) January 13, 2018

Choking mode on at Centurion.#INDvSA

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 13, 2018

Faf Du Plessis is the worst captain on the field that has Virat Kohli. Let that sink in.

— rohitswarrior1 (@The_Sleigher) January 13, 2018

Hardik Pandya just brought a dead day to life. What a effort!

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) January 13, 2018

Unless they are as dry as their home state? https://t.co/Y3GhMIQqr6

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) January 13, 2018

What makes that run out especially awesome is that that was probably not a bad run… Pandya got across the pitch terrifically well…. awesome….

— cricketingview (@cricketingview) January 13, 2018

If Rahane had played this match, South Africa would have been all-out by now. Bring Back Rahane. #SAvIND

— Silly Point ?‏ (@FarziCricketer) January 13, 2018

Who's going to run AB de Vi- leave it.

Ishant Sharma will take the wicket of AB. #savind

— Abhishek (@absycric) January 13, 2018

Bored answering questions on Rahane’s exclusion, Kohli decided to answer fresh ones on Bhuvi’s exclusion. #SAvIND

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 13, 2018

Half volley after half volley. Doesn’t really matter what the pitch is like if you bowl like this. Disappointing from Shami and India. #SAvIND

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) January 13, 2018

Not surprised at Bhuvi getting dropped after a good outing in the first Test. He was dropped after picking 5 wickets in Kolkata against NZ. India see him as a green top specialist in Tests. #SAvIND

— cricBC (@cricBC) January 13, 2018

Dai Elgar, please get out. Already so annoyed, at least let us watch Amla and ABD. #SAvIND

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) January 13, 2018

Kohli going all pork chop again.

Missed it by the length of Bill Lawry's nose#SAvIND

— Aidennis Markram (@DennisCricket_) January 13, 2018

Amla has made at least a fifty in 10 of the 12 Tests he has played at Centurion. He averages over 80 at the venue. #SAvInd

— ESPNcricinfo stats (@ESPNcric_stats) January 13, 2018

First ball from Ashwin and a puff of dust….and a lot of bounce thereafter. Ashwin must assume the role of an aggressor today. #SAvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 13, 2018

Ishant Sharma is a strike bowler indeed, he ensures the batsman on strike has no problems whatsoever. #SAvIND

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 13, 2018

India dropping Bhuvi makes about as much sense as Trump's foreign policies. #SAvIND

— Aidennis Markram (@DennisCricket_) January 13, 2018

Unsolved mysteries :

1. Bermuda Triangle
2. Stonehenge
3. Why is Bhuvaneshwar out of the team? #SAvInd

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) January 13, 2018

AB is one of the nicest guys in cricket. That wicket right there is yet another example of his generosity #SAvInd

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) January 13, 2018

We’ve got an Indian pitch in Centurion. But it’s a good first day Indian pitch…which means, don’t be surprised if SA piles a mountain of runs. #SAvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 13, 2018

Kohli wearing a helmet in slips to get a flavour for what it's like to wear a helmet on a foreign ground for more than 20 minutes. #SAvIND

— Aidennis Markram (@DennisCricket_) January 13, 2018

Others: How can you drop Bhuvneshwar Kumar?

Sanjay Manjrekar: How can you drop Shikhar Dhawan? #legend

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) January 13, 2018

Three IPL trophies in one picture. pic.twitter.com/XBesZv2Uc6

— Abhishek (@absycric) January 13, 2018

Virat Kohli's bowler created a chance but his choice of wicket-keeper dropped it #SAvIND

— Cricket bakchod (@AllTimeBakchod) January 13, 2018

Always pleased if Ishant does well, but completely bemused Bhuvi dropped. If conditions are so crucial, presumably Kohli will drop himself for the England tour.

— Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) January 13, 2018

Parthiv Patel is the senior most player in Indian Team today. What a time to be alive!

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 13, 2018