India vs South Africa Live Cricket Score, 1st Test Day 1: Bhuvneshwar On Fire As Proteas Lose 3 Early Wickets
Live cricket score, India vs South Africa, 1st Test, Day 1: Irrespective of how well the Indians have played at home, every series in South Africa has been a real test for all the players.
Virat Kohli-led Team India will aim to begin their three-match Test series on a positive note when they take on the formidable South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town on Friday. This series will Test India's class and character on the harder tracks of Cape Town, Centurion and Johannesburg. The Newlands pitch at Cape Town, however, could well be a blessing in disguise for India. While it will be alien from anything they have played on for the last year or so, at least the lack of water, as has been reported in the media, has led to a little less irrigation of the square, and may well provide Virat Kohli and his boys with conditions closest to home. (Live Scorecard)
India's bowling may well depend on how the likes of Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvaneswar Kumar do since they are carded to be the ones to make the final XI in the 1st Test. However, the onus, eventually, may still fall on Ravichandran Ashwin to deliver. Especially if India bat first. With Ravindra Jadeja on the doubtful list, Ashwin will have to handle the spin department in a series which could also well make or break for the off-spinner. The batting will also be tested, but none of them is really threatened in terms of being dropped from the team since they all seem to have Kohli's backing. Ashwin, on the other hand, may not necessarily do so.
Live updates and action between India vs South Africa, 1st Test, Day 1, straight from Cape Town
15:28 IST: Six overs gone and India are off to a magnificent start.
A fantastic start for #TeamIndia as @BhuviOfficial claims the wicket of the two openers #FreedomSeries #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/cvAmBinOGW
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2018
15:27 IST: Captain Faf du Plessis comes to the crease.
15:24 IST: WICKET! Bhuvneshwar is on fire! He has left the South African top-order in tatters. This time Amla departs. South Africa is in real trouble, 12/3 in 4.5 overs. The Bhuvneshwar delivery pitched on a good length, held its line. Amla looking for a back-foot punch, edges the ball back to the keeper, who accepts the catch with full gratitude.
15:17 IST: FOUR! First ball boundary from de Villiers as he flicks Mohammad Shami through mid-wicket. Gets off the mark in style.
14:15 IST: AB de Villiers, right handed bat, comes to the crease.
14:14 IST: WICKET! Bhuvneshwar's delivery came back in sharply and caught Markram off-guard as the ball hit him on the pads. Dream beginning for Indian side.
14:12 IST: Four! Over pitched delivery from Bhuvneshwar and Markram drives it for a boundary.
14:09 IST: First run on the board for South Africa as Markram gets off the mark.
14:05 IST: Brilliant start from Bhuvneshwar, a wicket maiden to start the proceedings.
14:03 IST: WICKET! Dream start for India as Bhuvneshwar removes Dean Elgar for a duck on the third ball. Beautiful delivery from Bhuvneshwar, pitches around off, moves away a little bit as Elgar edges the ball back to the wicket-keeper.
13:57 IST: Alright, game time! Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram opening the batting for South Africa and Bhuvneshwar Kumar is opening the bowling for India.
13:54 IST: Both teams are on the ground for their respective national anthems.
13:45 IST: South Africa playing XI:
SA XI: D Elgar, A Markram, H Amla, AB de Villiers, F du Plessis, Q de Kock, V Philander, K Maharaj, D Steyn, K Rabada, M Morkel
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2018
13:40 IST: Team India playing XI:
IND XI: S Dhawan, M Vijay, C Pujara, V Kohli, RG Sharma, W Saha, H Pandya, R Ashwin, B Kumar, M Shami, J Bumrah
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2018
13:30 IST: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis wins toss, elects to bat. Jasprit Bumrah makes his Test debut for India.
South Africa wins the toss. Elects to bat first in the 1st Test at Cape Town #FreedomSeries #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/lFkTJMVNpb
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2018
13:27 IST: We are just minutes away from the toss. Stay tuned!
13:18 IST: India pacer Jasprit Bumrah receives his Test cap from captain Virat Kohli.
Proud moment for @Jaspritbumrah93 as he receives his Test cap from #TeamIndia Skipper @imVkohli #FreedomSeries #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/H7s4w8gSmh
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2018
13:12 IST: Team India discuss their strategy ahead of their first Test against the Faf Du Plessis-led side.
Team talk ahead of the first Test here in Newlands #TeamIndia #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/542WGeUURP
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2018
13:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the first Test match between India and South Africa straight from Cape Town.
Ironically, it will be the Mumbai duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma who will in the hot seat if there are any questions about the batting. But that is just for now. Other may join that list as the series progresses. India have a poor record in South Africa as they lost five out of six series and drawn one. Since 1992, India have only won two out of 17 Tests played on South African soil -- in 2006-07 under Rahul Dravid and in 2010-11 under MS Dhoni.
