South Africa vs India 2018: 1st Test, Day 2 - 5 things we learnt from the day

A supremely brilliant show from Hardik Pandya salvaged a horrendous day for India at Newlands as the rakish, ostentatious Baroda all-rounder smacked a counter-attacking 93 and followed it up with two wickets. Pandya's scintillating show overshadowed a cracking bowling performance from the South African seamers.

Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada were unplayable while Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel supported the duo. The four-pronged attack made batting near impossible until Pandya showed the way with a counter-attacking knock in the company of a steady Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Two late order wickets could not salvage India's day, though as South Africa led by 142 runs.

#5 Rabada breaks Pujara - Rohit dogged stand

Rabada bowed a sensational spell to get rid of Rohit Sharma

From 28/3, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma chugged along hard to consume a lot of balls early on day 2. The two grit it out in the middle even as the Proteas seamers gave little away. A lot of balls were left, even more, beat the bat, and a few were defended down the track. Runs were hard to come by but neither was complaining.

Faf du Plessis eventually turned to the youngest man of the four-pronged attack, Kagiso Rabada and the fiery pacer steamed in to send Rohit Sharma on his way. He noticed that Sharma was shuffling across the stumps and angled into his pads. Rohit reviewed the LBW decision unsuccessfully and India's solid start had gone awry.

#4 Philander's screaming start

Vernon Philander is a beast of a bowler on seaming wickets

Big Vern turned up at Newlands with his tails up and tied down the Indian batsmen at the crease with impeccable control and niggardly lines. He bowled five maidens on the trot and conceded just one run in his six overs upfront. Though there was much less on offer for the bowlers on day 2, Philander barely lets go of anything loose and the Indians had nowhere to go to.

Cheteshwar Pujara had played through the pressure until lunch, facing a total of 91 balls for his 26. However, the first ball after lunch, the no.3 batsman chased a wide one from Philander and edged it to the cordon to sink India further. He then snapped up Ravichandran Ashwin courtesy a screamer from Quinton de Kock behind the stumps.

#3 Pujara's rare lapse of concentration

Pujara played the ball late and left equally well whole day long

Cheteshwar Pujara was at his defensive best on day 3, giving little away to the terrifying Proteas seamers and playing at the ball if and only absolutely necessary. He hung back onto his back-foot, played with soft hands to ensure edges did not carry and had an able company in a resilient Rohit Sharma. The duo played out the first hour without damage.

Pujara was careful to put away anything on the leg-side but played on the off-side only when he was completely certain. The no.3 batsman chose to stamp his presence at the crease at the wrong time, though. Shortly after lunch, he chased a wide one from Vernon Philander and edged to the awaiting slip cordon to trigger a middle-overs collapse.

#2 Hardik Pandya plays a brave cameo

Pandya's sensational cameo helped India negate the early loss of wickets.

India's quest for a blistering all-rounder seems to be over with Hardik Pandya more than stepping up at no.8 for the visitors at Newlands. The modern-day superstar of Indian cricket lambasted the South African attack, taking a counter-attacking route which AB de Villiers had successfully employed on day 1, to peg back South Africa's plans.

Pandya's intent was super important as he imposed himself on the Proteas bowlers even if he wasn't nailing the shots right off the middle of the willow. The intent put South Africa off and in no time India were digging away at the lead. He had a stable companion in Bhuvneshwar Kumar as well and the partnership resurrected India's innings. He was dropped early on by Dean Elgar off Dale Steyn and the missed chance cost South Africa dear.

#1 Pandya turns up with the ball too

Hardik Pandya proved that he wasn't here just to make up the numbers.

Spurred on by his batting performance, a rejuvenated Hardik Pandya sent shivers down South Africa's spine with two wickets late in the day to shut out South Africa's advantage a tad. Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram had started off with authority for the hosts and it looked like Pandya's knock would go in vain.

The extra zip in his delivery was evident to see as Pandya angled one into Markram. The right-hander tried to whip without too much intent and the leading edge carried to backward point. He followed it up next over with the wicket of Dean Elgar. Having watched the southpaw's uncertainty outside the off-stump, Pandya stuck to that channel and eventually got rid of Elgar.