South Africa vs India 2018: 1st Test, Day 1 - 5 things we learnt from the day

Vintage AB de Villiers and an adamant Faf du Plessis resurrected South Africa's innings after Bhuvneshwar Kumar had ripped apart the top order on Day 1 of the first Test between India and South Africa at Newlands. From 12/3, the duo took South Africa to 126 before de Villiers fell to debutant Jasprit Bumrah.

A slew of counter-attacking knocks from the lower order ensured that South Africa totalled 286 on a pitch seaming a great deal. However, the Proteas did not get so much movement late in the day when India came out to bat. That barely mattered, though, as their relentless four-pronged attack pushed India into a corner, reducing them to 28/3 at stumps on day 1.

#5 India's bizarre selection call and South Africa's full strength squad

Bumrah made his Test debut in a rather unexpected move.

India made a few alarming changes to their Test XI for Newlands after much hype and anticipation. They decided to hand a debut to Mumbai Indians yorker specialist, Jasprit Bumrah, instead of going with Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav, both of whom had more to speak for in terms of selection.

If that gamble were not enough, they dropped Ajinkya Rahane, their best Test overseas batsman, for Rohit Sharma on recent form and also sat Lokesh Rahul on the bench for Shikhar Dhawan. South Africa, on the other hand, unleashed a full strength bowling attack comprising of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel.

#4 Bhuvneshwar Kumar's sensational opening spell

Bhuvneshwar was spot on with his line and length early on

After Faf du Plessis opted to go brave and bat on a seaming Newlands track, India nearly made him bang his head on the wall via Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The lanky swing bowler ran in with authority and purpose, moved the ball either way and made life hell for South Africa's batsmen. Dean Elgar nicked behind off the third ball of the game and Aiden Markram fell to an inswinging beauty from Bhuvneshwar.

The hosts needed Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers to stick through and take them to safety but Bhuvneshwar wasn't going to relent. He kept targetting Amla with the ball seaming away and eventually landed him in trouble. The edge was eked out and the Mighty Hash fell leaving the Proteas tottering at 12/3.

#3 AB de Villiers' counter-attacks to reverse the trend

AB de Villiers reinstated the belief that 'class is permanent'

Out of Test cricket for more than a year, AB de Villiers had returned to the fold with a half-century against Zimbabwe in the four-day Boxing Day Test but with South Africa at 12/3 on day 1 against India, they needed their big shot batsman to take the attack by the teeth. And what does the Superman do?

He decides to take on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India's best bowler on display and thrashed him four boundaries in an over to transfer the pressure back onto the visitors. In no time, the gear and momentum had shifted and South Africa were cruising with Du Plessis holding one end up and de Villiers going hammer and tongs.

He notched up his half-century before the lunch break and was a breath-taking treat to watch. He was, however, cleaned up by Jasprit Bumrah shortly after lunch.

#2 India fight back after the break before Philander - De Kock counter-attack again

Du Plessis fell to a wild shot after the lunch break

India fought back after the lunch break with the wickets of AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis coming in quick time. The former was cleaned up by Jasprit Bumrah while Faf du Plessis escaped a review from India for LBW off the bowling of Hardik Pandya. The Indians were furious with the ball tracking showing umpire's call on hitting the stumps but were relieved when du Plessis edged Pandya behind two balls later.

If India thought they had a grip on proceedings, Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander thwarted that with some counter-attacking shots that once again swung the momentum in the way of the hosts. de Kock was sublime with his off-side stroke making while Philander, trusted with more responsibility at no.7, appeared pretty good too. Their 50 run stand came at more than run a ball but eventually, Bhuvneshwar returned to send de Kock back.

#1 India's top-order collapse

Kohli once again appeared vulnerable outside his off-stump

Although the ball did very little for the Proteas as against what happened for Bhuvneshwar Kumar earlier in the day, the Indian top order found themselves in a soup courtesy some horrendous shots. Vijay was the first to go, nicking Philander to gully while Dhawan followed soon, going for a half-hearted pull and skying a return catch to Dale Steyn.

The big fish was, however, Virat Kohli. The Indian skipper and Cheteshwar Pujara was India's best bet at getting back into the game. But Morne Morkel sent Kohli back to 2014 and his horror tour of England by getting him to edge a sixth stump line delivery to the keeper.