India vs South Africa: Shardul Thakur Cops Nasty Blow As SA Pacer’s Bouncer Hits Him, Brow Reveals Swelling. Watch

The Indian cricket crew batters confronted a tricky problem from South African pacers on Day 1 of the primary Check in Centurion on Tuesday. Kagiso Rabada struck with a five-wicket haul as prime batters like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma couldn’t ship an enormous innings. With overcast circumstances in Centurion, the South African pacers received bounce in addition to lateral motion. South Africa is a spot the place India have by no means received any Check sequence, and the opening day of the present contest was not good for  them both.

Shardul Thakur, India’s no.8 batter, appeared to be in good contact earlier than he was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Gerald Coetzee within the forty fourth over. Through the obligatory concussion protocol, Thakur’s brow confirmed swelling. Although Shardul resumed batting, he was once more hit on the hand on a Kagiso Rabada supply within the forty seventh over. On the subsequent ball, Shardul fell on the rating of 24 off 33 balls.

In the meantime, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma‘s participation within the on-going first Check towards India was thrown into jeopardy after he limped off the sphere with a left hamstring pressure right here on Tuesday. Bavuma went out of the sphere within the twentieth over after chasing a drive from Virat Kohli off left-arm pacer Marco Jansen.

“Scans have revealed a left hamstring pressure. He (Bavuma) will endure each day medical evaluations to find out his participation within the match,” mentioned an replace from Cricket South Africa (CSA).

Bavuma hobbled halfway via that chase by way of further cowl area and shortly walked off the bottom with the assistance of the South African physio.

Dean Elgar, who’s retiring after this sequence, stood-in as captain within the absence of Bavuma.

Wiaan Mulder changed Bavuma on the sphere.

On the finish of the lunch, India posted a complete of 91/3, with Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer unbeaten, having a partnership of 67 runs.

After profitable the toss, the hosts despatched India to bat first. Nonetheless, the Proteas will not remorse their choice, as they efficiently dominated the primary session in Centurion.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (17 runs from 37 balls) and Rohit Sharma (5 runs from 14) opened for the guests however each of them didn’t make a mark and collapsed in entrance of the Proteas pacers.

One of many major disappointments within the first session was Shubman Gill‘s (2 runs from 12 balls) sloppy efficiency. After early upsets, the guests depend on Kohli (33 runs from 47 balls) and Iyer (31 runs from 46 balls) to make a stable partnership and sit within the driver’s seat after the tip of day one.

With PTI and ANI inputs