India vs South Africa 1st Test: Proteas win toss, decide to field; Prasidh Krishna makes debut

South Africa decided to field in the opening Test against India at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. After a delayed toss due to wet patches in the outfield, Temba Bavuma won the toss and put India in to bat.

LIVE: India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 1

“Wicket has been under covers, we want to use the moisture and make early inroads,” said Bavuma on the decision.

Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, meanwhile said he wasn’t too sure of what to do with the toss. “Wasn’t too sure (on batting or bowling). We are quite aware of the conditions, we have been here a few times. We need to put runs on the board and the bowlers will do the job for us. We do understand the challenge of batting first with the overhead conditions and the grass, but the guys are up for the challenge,” he said at the toss.

In terms of team composition, India handed Prasidh Krishna his Test debut just couple of months after he played his first for India in the T20I format. For South Africa there will be two debutants with Nandre Burger and David Bedingham making their first Test appearances.

Expectedly, the Indian team went with a four seamer and one spinner approach with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Krishna the seam bowling options. R Ashwin was the only spinner in the lineup. Rohit Sharma revealed Ravindra Jadeja suffered neck spasm in the morning of the Test which ruled him out.

India are looking to end their winless run in Test series in South Africa. Men in Blue have toured South Africa eight times since the maiden trip in 1992 and have never been able to go back with the trophy.

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“Everytime we come here, we come with high hopes. We’ve come close in the last 2 tours. We are pretty confident with our squad and the make-up of our squad,” said Rohit on dealing with expectations.

South Africa XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger

India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna