Stats from Day One of India vs South Africa First Test

Dean Elgar starred with the ball picking up 4 wickets

South Africa found a surprise hero in the form of Dean Elgar as the left-arm spinner was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 4 wickets as India collapsed to 201 all out, on a turning track in Mohali. Earlier, the hosts got off to a disastrous start after they won the toss and chose to bat first, losing the wicket of opener Shikhar Dhawan very early on.

India went into the test match with three spinners and two pacers, while the Proteas picked up two spinners and three fast bowlers. Kohli expected a batting wicket at the toss, but what followed was a complete spinners show on day one as Indian batsmen struggled to score on familiar conditions.

Barring the composed knock of Murali Vijay who pitched in with 75, none of the other batsmen stood up to the occasion, including the skipper Kohli. Apart from Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja also briefly contributed with the bat scoring 38, and later starred with the ball picking up the wicket of Faf du Plessis.Key Stats from Day One: 1. Dean Elgar picked up his career best bowling figures of 4/22 in his 10th Test match, since his debut in 2012. 2. Hashim Amla’s test average in India is 102.87, second only behind Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower. 3. The last time India were bowled out on the opening day playing at home, was back in 2008 in Ahmedabad, against the same opponents, South Africa. 4. This was only Ajinkya Rahane’s second test playing at home. He has played 17 away tests so far.5. Cheteshwar Pujara averages 75+ batting at home as compared to just 33 in away series.6. Virat Kohli was Kagiso Rabada’s first wicket in test cricket.7. The last time Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan opened the innings for India in Mohali, they stitched an opening wicket stand of 289 against Australia.8. Out of the 12 wickets which fell on Day one, the spinners bagged 9 of them.9. India’s win-loss record in Mohali stands at 5-1, with 5 draws.10. Ravindra Jadeja faced 92 balls to score 38 runs, the second highest number of deliveries he has faced thus far in Test cricket.