For some time, Ajinkya Rahane had shown his mark in Test matches but away from home. It had been visible in all away series: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Australia and Sri lanka. But in India, he had yet to prove himself. In the Test against Australia in 2013, he only mustered 8 runs and in this series, he had picked only 39 runs in four innings which comes to a grand total of 47 runs. But on Thursday, he came good on the promise eventually against the Proteas. At close of play on day 1 of the fourth Test at Ferozshah Kotla, Rahane was unbeaten on 89 off 155 balls (9 X4, 1 X 6) with Ravichandran Ashwin giving him company on 6 with India standing at an unsteady 231/7.
The total is the highest by any team in this series with the prior one of 215 getting eclipsed. Besides Rahane, skipper Virat Kohli (44) offered a response on the slow pitch while rest of the top order continued to be meek to the South African bowling with Dane Piedt (4-101) and Kyle Abbott (3-23) amongst the wickets. The worst showing was by Rohit Sharma (1) who after getting a respite with a Hashim Amla drop, went for a big one with the long on fielder Imran Tahir taking the catch comfortably.
This wasn't Amla's only drop of the day, he also handed Rahane a reprieve with the batsman on 78 and India's scoreboard reading 216/7. Incidentally, both drops came in the slip region.
Rahane's inning showed massive improvements from the last two matches as he only attacked loose deliveries and didn't fetch deliveries outside-off. He hit off-spinner Piedt for a six and a four in the same over to reach his fifty - third by an Indian in the series and his eighth overall.
Kohli's calm stint at the crease was halted by a stroke of bad luck when he tried to sweep Piedt but hit Temba Buvama at forward short leg and the ricochet presented an opportunity for wicketkeeper Dane Vilas to rush forward and dive full length to take a spectacular catch.
lady luck continued to shine on Kohli who won the toss for the fourth consecutive Test and not so surprisingly, chose to bat. Amit Mishra went off the team in favour of Umesh Yadav. For the visitors, Stiaan van Zyl, Kagiso Rabada, Steve Harmer were replaced by Temba Bavuma, Abbott and Piedt.
The hot topic — the pitch — behaved much better than the ones in Nagpur and Mohali. It offered help to the spinners and Abbott showed there was something for the bowlers too. But it also showed that the wickets won't fall in the lap either — Abbott bowled perfect line and length to bother the Indian batting.