Twitter Reactions: India on the backfoot as South Africa rip apart Indian top order after scoring 286

The Indian tour of South Africa kicked off in Cape Town. Day one saw some stupendous cricketing action between both the teams. While the Indian bowlers tried to dominate and put pressure onto the South Africans, the Proteas batsmen managed to post a substantial total on the board. However, South Africa had the last laugh.

It was skipper Faf du Plessis who won the toss as South Africa surprisingly elected to bat first. Dale Steyn was back in action after a prolonged absence due to injury. As for India, Rohit Sharma was preferred over Ajinkya Rahane. Jasprit Bumrah was handed his first Test cap.

Batting first, the Proteas were on the backfoot in the very first over. Dean Elgar edged one to Saha as Bhuvneshwar Kumar drew the first blood. The right arm medium pacer bowled a splendid first spell. He struck again in his second over as Aiden Makram was adjudged lbw.

Hashim Amla was soon dismissed as Bhuvneshwar ripped apart South African top order. The home side was reduced to 12/3 as skipper Faf du Plessis took guard. Just when it seemed, the Proteas would fold up, AB de Villiers played a magnificent innings. He and the skipper managed to recover the hosts to 107/3 by the end of first session.

While AB got out for 65 runs, Faf scored 62. As South Africa were reduced to 142/5, Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander combined for a 60-run partnership. The tail continued to wag late and trouble India. The likes of Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada made vital contributions.

South Africa ended up posting a total of 286 all out. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick amongst the bowlers picking four wickets. He missed out on a fifer as Dhawan dropped Keshav Maharaj on duck. Ravichandran Ashwin got a couple of wickets. The trio of Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah got a wicket each.

As for India, they were off to a really poor start as Murali Vijay tried to play a wide delivery, ended up getting caught by Elgar. If that was a poor shot, then Shikhar Dhawan ended up skying a shot to Dale Steyn with a nothing shot. Indian skipper Virat Kohli was dismissed by Morne Morkel as they were reduced to 28/3 at stumps on day one.

Twitter was at it’s best as the momentum kept shifting between both teams. However, the day belonged to South Africa who managed to contain the Indian top order after scoring 286. Twitterati went from lauding Bhuvneshwar to trolling Shikhar Dhawan, from lauding AB to trolling the Indian batting.

Here we have some of the amazing Twitter reactions from Day 1:

Virat Kohli gets out on 5 runs only. This is what happened when u forced an employee to come office during his honeymoon days.#SAvIND

— Sunil- The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) January 5, 2018

Virat Kohli seems to gotten his "mojo" back..
Poking at balls way far from the off stump… That too with an angled & poen faced bat.. #SAvIND #SAvsIND

— Mitul Bora (@Mi2L008) January 5, 2018

These two guys @imVkohli @SDhawan25 offfield roaming all around with wife dancing on street even though on official @BCCI tour but still in honeymoon mood ..On field dropping catches, getting out in single digit score..what a waste of time nd money of @BCCI on this tour #IndvsSA

— Drsoni (@drshankarsoni) January 5, 2018

Virat kohli is not even near to steve smith in test cricket.Smith is too good in test. #RSAvIND #SAvsInd #Ashes

— Pradyot patel (@Pradyotpatel1) January 5, 2018

Still on honeymoon hehhehe enjoy on BCCI and out expense @imVkohli

— JATIN (@jackhanna7123) January 5, 2018

#IndvsSA #Kohli #ViratKohli #Steyn pic.twitter.com/eRJAcrmKMo

— Cyber BULLY (@Chota_thalaiva) January 5, 2018

@imVkohli Wonderful batting performance today. #INDvSA . Morkel showed you some class today.

— Vasishta Nagalla (@vasishtanagalla) January 5, 2018

Sleepless night for @imVkohli
In #Newlands south Africa #INDvSA

— Bhatumer (@bhatumer401) January 5, 2018

*Dhawan, Pujara and Kohli at a bar in SA*

Bartender : Sir our shots are famous. Kamikaze, Tequila, B-52 etc, which one would you like ?

Pujara: Let me decide guys, your shot selection sucks…#SAvIND

— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) January 5, 2018

I'm actually surprised at how surprised people are at this Dhawan dismissal. You should be surprised only if he bats well.

— Vasanth Kumar (@gully_point) January 5, 2018

Shikhar Dhawan has already scored more number of boundaries than the runs people would have expected him to be score

— ? (@tarun_0707) January 5, 2018

Just to watch Steyn run in, in whites, with that broad white wrist band – everything else is a bonus.#SAvsInd

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 5, 2018

"Kohli lingering to see if it was a legal delivery"
Holding you beauty #SAvsIND

— GoanPatiala (@TheGoanPatiala) January 5, 2018

Hi Is that Sri Lanka Cricket? Yeah BCCI here, fancy another half dozen series this year…? #savind

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) January 5, 2018

Missing Sri Lanka? #SAvInd

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) January 5, 2018

Welcome back to real test cricket no. 1 test team of the world. #indvsa

— LOLendra Singh (@LOLendraSingh) January 5, 2018

Ravi Shastri : Jaldi out hogaya tu aaj

Dhawan: Nahi toh? Pehle se toh late hi out hua na. #INDvSA

— Akshay Jain (@AkshayKatariyaa) January 5, 2018

India needs 87 to save the follow on. Sorry. Old habits. #SAvIND

— cricBC (@cricBC) January 5, 2018

It’s a little bit unfair that South Africa take all their catches in rhe cordon while India graciously drop all theirs.. #SAvIND

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) January 5, 2018

If South Africa get to 300 it will be their day. Once again, the lower order is hurting India in an away Test

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) January 5, 2018

now THIS is fantastic cricket. not that waste of time called Ashes.

— ? (@prtxt) January 5, 2018

It's high time some saints stop ranting over Kohli's aggression.#SAvIND

— Prajakta Bhawsar (@ViratsFangirl18) January 5, 2018

There is no use in having Bumrah if you can't even manage in a way he could be brought into the attack once the tail begins.

— Alagappan V (@IndianMourinho) January 5, 2018

Dhawan dropping catches as if he’s going to score all the runs against Rabada-Philander-Steyn.#SAvIND

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) January 5, 2018

Quinton de Kock to Indian bowling. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/nwtMTQZUf2

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 5, 2018

So ridiculous the umpires tell Kohli to calm down there. He didn't send anyone off or sledge. Just celebrated. If you want test cricket to thrive let players show some emotion. So precious from Kettleborough #SAvIND

— Jonathan Augustus (@JCAugustus) January 5, 2018

I get while people dislike Virat Kohli, but I can’t get enough of him. His passion for winning is unbelievable.

Du Plessis out, SA 5/142, Kohli not involved the wicket but almost does a lap around the oval he’s that pumped#SAvIND

— Adam McGrath (@AdamMcGrath89) January 5, 2018

Kohli is so charged up all the time. He should give his secret to mobile phone companies. It will solve half of world's problems.

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) January 5, 2018

MI retention gets RCB retention. #SAvInd

— cricBC (@cricBC) January 5, 2018

Jasprit Bumrah's first wickets:

In IPL – Virat Kohli
In ODIs – Steven Smith
In T20Is – David Warner
In Tests – AB DE VILLIERS#SAvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 5, 2018

A great spell of opening bowling by @BhuviOfficial. One of the most lethal ones I have seen of late. The first session undoubtedly belonged to #TeamIndia. C'mon boys, let's get a few more 😉 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/s9dILKEp23

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) January 5, 2018

That was possibly the best first session of a Test match I've ever seen.

It had everything.

Early wickets. Moving ball. Huge counter attack. Great location. Holding sledging Ishant who isn't even playing. #SAvIND

— AB dennis Villiers (@DennisCricket_) January 5, 2018

Forgive the cliche but…
Everyone: Is Smith or Kohli the best batsman in the world?
AB de Villiers: Hold my Castle Lager.#RSAvIND

— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) January 5, 2018

Dear God, Make AB 5 years younger and you can take 5 years from my life #SSCricket #SAvIND

— Bilal ??? (@billz_25) January 5, 2018

Spectacular counter-attack by AB Devilliers,great knock under pressure!#SAvIND

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) January 5, 2018

#SAvIND Michael Holding "I was excited when I saw SA's fast bowling lineup. And all the excitement drained from my body when I saw Faf chose to bat" ???

— Avi (@ManUtdBoy_ZA) January 5, 2018

What a game this is and what a player @ABdeVilliers17 is. The ball is jagging around, wickets are falling and he takes 17 off an over……

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 5, 2018

AB De Villiers is hitting boundaries. Someone please call Krunal Pandya. #SAvIND

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) January 5, 2018

#SAvIND I was seriously counting on Amla and de villiers partnership pic.twitter.com/vhbPRWrXkn

— Lutho Nconyelo (@Lutho911) January 5, 2018

looks like south africa needed some practice matches to get used to the conditions #SAvIND

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 5, 2018

#Bhuvi and the beauty of the moving ball, the still head, and the eyes set on its prey. #SAvIND

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 5, 2018

Horrible decision from Faf to bat first absolute horror. How do u choose to bat first when u selected four seamers? You are not Graeme Smith, Mr du Plesis cut the act and stay in your lane. #SAvIND

— Rego (@cradockmolefe) January 5, 2018

South Africa one wicket down and I am already imagining Kohli handing over the trophy to his teammates. #Optimistic #SAvIND

— Silly Point ?‏ (@FarziCricketer) January 5, 2018

India playing an overseas test without @ajinkyarahane88 who averages more than 50 abroad in recent series? I know he is off form, but Horses for courses surely? #SAvIND

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 5, 2018

Way to go Kohli, picking an attacking XI and not a please everybody XI. #SAvIND

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 5, 2018