Rahul proved the steadying issue within the batting line-up, after taking over from Virat Kohli as skipper simply earlier than the beginning of play, earlier than being dismissed for 50.
Kohli needed to pull out of the check due to an higher again pressure, handing over the captaincy to Rahul, who performed an organised and circumspect innings earlier than a stray shot noticed him caught at nice leg by a diving Kagiso Rabada off the bowling of Marco Jansen.
(*50*) proved the massive wicket of the session for the house crew, who added two extra after having India 53-3 at lunch.
(*50*) was a second wicket for Jansen, who had claimed the primary scalp of the check when opener Mayank Agarwal feathered a slight contact to the tall left-arm fast to depart for a brisk 26 off 37 balls.
Duanne Olivier then took two wickets in two balls earlier than lunch with Cheteshwar Pujara caught off a high edge for 3 adopted by Ajinkya Rahane, out first ball as he was caught by Keegan Petersen at second slip.
The 29-year-old Olivier was returning to check cricket for the primary time in nearly three years, having exploded onto the scene in 2017 and snagging 48 wickets in 10 exams at a median under 20, however then taking up a Kolpak contract with English county Yorkshire that meant he couldn’t play for South Africa.
But after returning dwelling when the Kolpak system fell away because of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, Olivier completed the highest wicket-taker within the home four-day competitors and has gained again a check place.
After lunch, Rahul and Hanuma Vihari, who was introduced into the crew to interchange Kohli, put collectively a 42-run partnership earlier than Vihari was caught at brief leg by a flying one-handed catch by Rassie van der Dussen off Rabada.
At tea, Rishabh Pant was 13 not out and Ravichandran Ashwin had scored 24 runs off solely 21 balls.
India gained the primary check in Pretoria final week and are in search of a primary sequence triumph in South Africa.
