On the opening day of the second Test, on Monday, Duanne Olivier dismissed out-of-form batsman Cheteshwar Pujjara and Ajinkya Rahane with successive balls to leave India at 53 for 3 at lunch against South Africa.
With a bouncer, he removed Pujara (3 off 33 balls) and then caught Rahane (0) at slips with a slight seam movement.
On his captaincy debut, KL Rahul made a 19-ball 74-ball haul as the stand-in skipper.
Hanuma Vihari was giving him company (4) at the break.
Rahul also survived strong caught behind and leg before appeals, both of which were overturned by debutant umpire Allahudien Palekar.
The opening for India began badly as skipper Kohli was unable to play due to back spasms, but Rahul’s decision to bat first and take advantage of difficult conditions was understandable.
Until Agarwal joined him, the openers, much like Centurion, looked good but, once Agarwal left, Pujara went into a shell and seemed uncomfortable against steep bounce, which ultimately cost him the match.
Rahane’s dismissal was a sign that his confidence had been shattered. This ball is pitched on the fourth stump channel with a shade cut-back that creates a question of whether or not to play it. Rahane dangled the bat and the catch was made in the slips.
