South Africa made a sturdy comeback on the opening day of the second Test from their 113-run defeat to India in Centurion.

Pace bowler Duanne Olivier replaced all-rounder Wiaan Mulder is South Africa’s playing XI and Western Province wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne came in place of Quinton de Kock, who declared his retirement from Test cricket.

For India, Hyderabad batter Hanuma Vihari replaced skipper Virat Kohli as the latter sustained an upper back spasm.

Olivier paired with Kagiso Rabada to share the new ball duties and together the duo alongside Marco Jansen skittled down the visitors for a meagre score of 202.

India bowled out for 202 as Ajinkya Rahane-Cheteshwar Pujara failed to score big runs

Despite stand-in skipper KL Rahul’s well-composed knock of 50 runs from 133 balls, the Proteas were successful in scripting India’s downfall as Jansen (4/31), Rabada (3/64) and Olivier (3/64) ran through their batting line-up.

Senior batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were dismissed on successive deliveries by Olivier in the 24th over of India’s innings.

Pujara lobbed a catch to Temba Bavuma who came jogging in from gully to send the batter for three, the very next ball Rahane feathered a wide delivery pitched outside off-stump by Olivier. The ball went safely in hands of Keegan Petersen at the third slip.

Pujara or Rahane will have to make way for Virat Kohli in the third Test: Dinesh Karthik

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is of the opinion that either of Pujara or Rahane will have to make way for Kohli for the third Test in Cape Town.

“At No. 3 in inarguably the world’s best cricket team, to find a spot there for three years and not score a hundred – he (Pujara) will know he’s got a long, long rope. To a large extent they are playing because of the potential they have, and the performances they have shown, and obviously, they are senior statesmen [in the team] as well,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

“But the long rope they have been given is slowly burning out and you are coming to the end of it. I am very, very sure that they are both aware of it. Also, we have got to see the potential of the players at the back, they have done as well. Now if Virat Kohli returns, you get a feeling that one of the two has to give way,” he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin made 46 runs from 50 balls for his side to breathe some runs as India’s innings bundled up in 63.1 overs.

Mohammed Shami trapped Aiden Markram before the wicket to get the first wicket for India, the bowler has got the South African opener dismissed thrice in the series so far.

But Proteas skipper Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen ensured no more damage was incurred on the scoreboard as they survived the final session tackling the lethal deliveries of Jaspirt Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. South Africa ended the day with 35 runs for one wicket down and they trail by 167 runs.

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