Kohli, Pujara hold up South Africa
A half-century by Virat Kohli and a patient defensive innings by Cheteshwar Pujara helped India withstand a fast bowling barrage on the first day of the third and final Test against South Africa on Wednesday.
Kohil has called for his players to restore pride in this Test after South Africa clinched the three-match series last week.
In response to that appeal, India were 114 for four at tea after Kohli won the toss and decided to bat on a hard, well-grassed pitch in cool, overcast conditions at the Wanderers Stadium. Kohli himself made 54 and Pujara was on 27 not out.
A patient Pujara took 54 balls to score his first runs and by tea had faced 145 deliveries.
Kohli was dropped twice and a wicket was overturned because of a no-ball, hampering South Africa on a day when the bowlers were able to extract considerable sideways movement off the pitch.
India's captain made his runs off 106 balls with nine fours.
He was put down when he had 11 by Vernon Philander off Kagiso Rabada and on 32 by AB de Villiers at third slip off Morne Morkel.
De Villiers made amends when he held a sharp chance, again at third slip, off Lungi Ngidi to end Kohli's innings.
Philander, who took the first wicket when he had Lokesh Rahul caught behind, was denied a second wicket when Ajinkya Rahane, on three, edged him to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, only to get a reprieve when replays showed he had over-stepped the bowling crease.
Rahane made only six more runs before he was leg before wicket to Morkel shortly before tea.
India struggle in final Test
India lost both opening batsmen inside the first nine overs as they endured a torrid start to the third and final Test against South Africa on Wednesday.
India were 45 for two at lunch after Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat on a hard, well-grassed pitch in cool, overcast conditions at the Wanderers Stadium.
Kohil has called for his players to restore pride after South Africa clinched the three-match series last week.
The captain was 24 not out and Cheteshwar Pujara had five, enabling their side to recover from 13 for two but it was tough going against South Africa's fast bowlers.
Kohli had a lucky escape when he was dropped by Vernon Philander at mid-off when he mistimed a pull against Kagiso Rabada when he had 11.
Philander's fielding error spoiled an otherwise outstanding morning in his 50th Test after he bowled an opening spell of one wicket for one run in eight overs.
Seven runs, including a no-ball came off the first over, bowled by Morne Morkel, but it did not take long for the bowlers to put severe pressure on the batsmen.
Philander made the first breakthrough when Lokesh Rahul was caught behind for nought off an inside edge in the fourth over.
Rabada, coming on as first change in the ninth over, struck with his fourth delivery when Murali Vijay drove at a fuller ball and was caught behind for eight.
Pujara, who took 54 balls to score his first run, faced 31 deliveries from Philander and was beaten several times as Philander moved the ball both ways off the seam with immaculate control.