IND vs SA 3rd TEst Live Match Scorecard: Virat Kohli makes a comeback in the third Test at Cape Town. India vs South Africa 3rd Test Live Score: India reached 141 for four in their first innings at tea on the opening day of the series-deciding third Test against against South Africa on Tuesday. Cheteshwar Pujara (43) and Ajinkya Rahane (9) were the two wickets to fall in the post lunch session with India addding 66 runs.
Skipper Virat Kohli (40 not out) and Rishabh Pant (12 not out) were at the crease at the break. Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with figures of 2 for 52. Earlier, India lost openers KL Rahul (12) and Mayank Agarwal (15) before reaching 75 for two in their first innings at lunch.
Playing his 99th Test on what will also be his daughter’s first birthday, the batter in Kohli would like to make it a special one for the ‘Captain’, who has been under tremendous pressure of late. Virat Kohli comes back in as Hanuma Vihari misses out, while Umesh Yadav replaces Mohammed Siraj. South Africa going in unchanged.
Playing XI:
India: KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav
South Africa: Dean Elgar(C), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne(WK), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi
The Indian cricket team members leave the field at the end of the third day of the 2nd cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. (AP Photo)
And we are back from Tea for the last session of the day. Kohli starts strong with a great boundary off Ngidi. 5 from that over ultimately. India are 146/4 after 55 overs.
We go for tea as Kohli and Pant hold fort for India. Virat Kohli asking Pant to stay calm and leave the deliveries if possible. That will probably be the strategy from here on out. IND 141/4.
South Africa go upstairs to review the caught-behind appeal against Virat Kohli. The ultra edge showed a faint edge but there was clear a gap between bat and ball. The ball had brushed Kohli's thigh pads, hence the sound. IND: 139/4
Pant, in true Matrix style, keeps his eye on the ball and had to use EVERY bit of his flexibility to arch out of the way! IND: 131/4
Virat Kohli survives as Rabada induces the edge with the wobbled seam
Wicket! First delivery after drinks break and Kagiso Rabada has got Ajinkya Rahane (9) caught behind by the keeper. The batter goes for the review but it's gone. Inconsistency continues for Rahane. One more inning without a double figure on board. IND: 116/4 in 42.1 overs
Kohli's top-edged pull has gone all the way! A venomous short ball this time from KG, pacy and Kohli decides to take it on with a fierce pull stroke. Not quite in control but got it over fine leg. IND: 116/3
Rahane opens the face of the bat and pushes it past the point region. Well played, says Kohli from the other end.
Cheteshwar Pujara departs after playing another fine knock. He looked set for the big one, but he is gone for 43. Marco Jansen with the breakthrough and broke the 62-run stand. Pujara must be gutted by not being able to convert his start, he has done so well. Here's Rahane!. (India: 95/3 in 37.3 overs)
After 17 dots balls, Ngidi released the pressure by straying down the leg side and Pujara glanced it down to the fine leg to pick up another boundary. The boundary also brings up a 50-run stand between Pujara and Kohli for the third wicket. (India: 88/2 in 35 overs)
Overpitched from Ngidi and Pujara caressed it through the covers. Pujara is batting with some intent. Meanwhile, there is a light drizzle as well. (India: 79/2 in 29 overs)
Pujara and Kohli have done exceedingly well so far. They would love to capitalise on their hard work. It is going to be an interesting battle between bat and ball. Pujara and Kohli are in the middle. Here we go! (India: 75/2 in 28 overs)
It was an even stevens kind of session. Indian openers started well but South African pacers found their rhythm back and got rid of both KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. Olivier provided the first breakthrough for the hosts as he dismissed KL Rahul for 12. Mayank, too, departs shortly after scoring 15. Pujara and Kohli have looked much more comfortable as the session has progressed, with some intent stroke-making. South Africa, especially the likes of Rabada and Olivier, have been threatening with some probing lines outside off stump, but it has been matched with some watchful leaves from the Indian batters. The duo have put on a 42-run stand for the third wicket. (India: 75/2 in 28 overs)
Another free-flowing cover drive off Virat Kohli's bat. It was full by Rabada and Kohli leans forward and put it past mid-off for his second boundary. He followed it with a comfortable 2 through the vacant mid-wicket region and moved into the double figures. (India: 67/2 in 25.3 overs)
These are easy picking for Cheteshwar Pujara. It was a length ball by Nigidi, straying down the leg and Pujara Pujara guides it away to the fine leg boundary. (India: 57/2 in 24 overs)
The call was off 2 but Kohli and Pujara sneaked three. Good running between the wickets. 50 up for India. It is a good battle going on in the middle. There are sounds of oohs and aahs coming from the slip cordon as South African pacers bowling the probing line and length, while Indian batters are playing the waiting game. (India: 53/2 in 22 overs)
Virat Kohli is off the mark with a trademark Virat Kohli cover drive. It took him 16 balls to open his account, but what a shot to get going. The boundary also broke the shackle after 23 dot balls. (India: 45/2 in 19 overs)
India have lost 2 wickets in the first hour. Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first in the overcast conditions. India lost their openers after a steady start. Olivier got the wicket of Rahul, while Rabada dismisses Mayank. (India: 41/2 in 15 overs)