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India v South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 1, Latest Updates: It’s official. No more play on Day 1. Umpires have called stumps due to bad light and rain in Ranchi. India vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Preview: It would have been a dead rubber but with valuable World Test Championship points on offer, India would be eyeing victory while South Africa would be desperate for some consolation in a wretched tour when the third and final Test starts on Saturday. There are 40 points on offer and a 3-0 series whitewash, both of which India would be targetting against the hapless visitors. Dominating the Proteas in all the departments, India won the first Test in Visakhapatnam by 203 runs before inflicting an innings and 137-run defeat on the hapless visitors in Pune to regain the Freedom Trophy. India, who have 200 points from four games, have a massive 140-point lead over nearest rivals New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the WTC standings. Skipper Virat Kohli has also made it clear that there is plenty to play for in the final Test and the team cannot afford a drop in intensity. Going into the game, India have very few holes to plug, be it their batting or bowling. The home team could not have asked for more from their top-order with Rohit Sharma showing why he is such an impact player as he feasted on the South African bowlers with twin hundreds in the first Test while opening for the first time. The Mumbai batsman’s opening partner Mayank Agarwal, on the other hand, went on to convert his maiden hundred into a double in Visakhapatnam and followed it up with another century in Pune. Then it was the turn of ‘King Kohli’ who came to the party in the Pune with a career-best double hundred — a majestic 254 not out — and made it look like a routine job. Rohit will be eyeing a big score after not firing in the first innings of the Pune Test while Cheteshwar Pujara, who has scored two fifties in the series, would be looking to cross the three-figure mark. That India have lost only 16 wickets while routing South Africa in both the Tests sums up their dominance. Toss has also been kind to India so far and things are likely to get more exciting if the stroke of luck favours Faf du Plessis in the final Test. The last time South Africa toured India, rank-turners had welcomed the side but this time both the pacers and spinners have been able to extract something out of the pitch. Umesh Yadav made a fine comeback in the Pune Test to return with fine figures of 3/22 with some brief hostile spells as wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha who took some breathtaking catches to aid to the pacer’s tally. Kohli played an extra pacer in Umesh at Pune by benching Hanuma Vihari but only time will tell what combination he chooses for the final Test. South African captain Faf du Plessis has already predicted the Ranchi pitch to be a turner, bringing Kuldeep Yadav into contention as the third spinner. South Africa batsmen showed some fight in Visakhapatnam but they let themselves down in Pune. It was only the tailenders who showed some character and frustrated the Indian bowling. Du Plessis has urged experiences players like Dean Elgar, Quinton De Kock and Temba Bavuma to bat with responsibility. Their batting woes are further compounded by the absence of opener Aiden Markram who has been ruled out of the third Test with an injury. The pace attack comprising Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Anrich Nortje has also not been as effective as expected while the Indian pacers have managed to provide the breakthroughs. With their senior-most spinner Keshav Maharaj also ruled out, South Africa will find it tougher to stop the Indian juggernaut. Squads India Virat Kohli (capt) , Mayank Agarwal , Rohit Sharma , Cheteshwar Pujara , Ajinkya Rahane , Hanuma Vihari , Rishabh Pant , Wriddhiman Saha , Ravichandran Ashwin , Ravindra Jadeja , Kuldeep Yadav , Mohammed Shami , Umesh Yadav , Ishant Sharma , Shubman Gill South Africa Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma , Theunis de Bruyn , Quinton de Kock , Dean Elgar , Zubayr Hamza , Keshav Maharaj , Aiden Markram , Senuran Muthusamy , Lungi Ngidi , Anrich Nortje , Vernon Philander , Dane Piedt , Kagiso Rabada , Rudi Second With inputs from PTI
India vs South Africa, Highlights, 3rd Test Day 1 at Ranchi, Full Cricket Score: India reach 224/3 before rain leads to early stumps
India v South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 1, Latest Updates: It’s official. No more play on Day 1. Umpires have called stumps due to bad light and rain in Ranchi.
 "India vs South Africa, Highlights, 3rd Test Day 1 at Ranchi, Full Cricket Score: India reach 224/3 before rain leads to early stumps")
So that’s all for today. Kagiso Rabada was the star for South Africa in the first session with his fiery spell. India lost three wickets, including that of Kohli’s cheaply. But then Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane’s superb counter-attack derailed Faf du Plessis’ plans. Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 117 while Rahane scored 83. India end the day on top and they would look to make a big score tomorrow to pile on more misery on South Africa.
Do join us tomorrow. Thank you for staying with us and goodbye for now.
Good fightback by India after losing early wickets
Bad Light forces early call of play. #TeamIndia 224/3 with Rohit on 117* & Rahane on 83*. Join us for Day 2 tomorrow #INDvSA @Paytm pic.twitter.com/HacyRwPl2m
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2019
Bad news!
It is raining now and very dark. Will be surprised if we get more play today.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 19, 2019
After 58 overs,India 224/3 ( Rohit Sharma 117 , Ajinkya Rahane 83)
South Africa bowlers are not doing enough to test Rohit and Rahane. Nortje is bowling with pace but the Indian batsmen are finding it easy to play him. First ball goes for a boundary and one more single in the over.
After 57 overs,India 219/3 ( Rohit Sharma 112 , Ajinkya Rahane 83)
Six runs from Linde’s over. Not quite sticking to a line. He’s bowling either too wide or on the pads. Rahane flicks one and gets a four. Rohit tries something similar in the final ball but the fielder makes a good save.
After 56 overs,India 213/3 ( Rohit Sharma 111 , Ajinkya Rahane 78)
Rohit Sharma is looking bit impatient. Nortje is reversing the ball and asking good questions to the batsmen. Rohit is going for the drives when there’s nothing in them. Again, good pace from the pacer. The final ball is way down the leg side. It results in a bye run.
After 55 overs,India 211/3 ( Rohit Sharma 110 , Ajinkya Rahane 78)
Linde continues. He’s bowling the leg-stump line to set batsmen. Don’t understand the thinking behind this. Rahane and Rohit are facing no problems against him. Three runs from the over.
After 54 overs,India 208/3 ( Rohit Sharma 109 , Ajinkya Rahane 76)
Anrich Nortje bowls the second over after tea. Now, he’s mixing up his pace to cause doubts in the minds of Indian batsmen. One ball is bowled at 130 kph and another one is at 147 kph. Rohit is watchful though. The last ball stays low but Rohit gets his bat down in time and takes a single.
After 53 overs,India 206/3 ( Rohit Sharma 108 , Ajinkya Rahane 75)
Decent start from Linde. Concedes just one run in the over. We’ll see how the pitch behaves in the final session. The pacers might be looking for the reverse swing and that’s where Rabada could be useful once again.
Most sixes hit in a Test series:
17 – ROHIT SHARMA v SA, 2019/20*
15 – Shimron Hetmyer v Bangladesh, 2018/19
Most centuries by openers in a calendar year in international cricket:
9 – Sachin Tendulkar, 1998
9 – Graeme Smith, 2005
9 – David Warner, 2016
9 – ROHIT SHARMA, 2019*
After 52 overs,India 205/3 ( Rohit Sharma 108 , Ajinkya Rahane 74)
Tea called!
Nortje completes the last over before closure of second session. Undoubtedly, this was India’s session. A session that may have mentally drained Proteas. They need to refill quickly in this 20-minute break and come out with a better show. Rohit’s classy ton and Rahane’s quick fifty highlight of the session.
After 51 overs,India 204/3 ( Rohit Sharma 108 , Ajinkya Rahane 73)
Linde completes a quick over. Rahane and Rohit in sheer control. Proteas still don’t how they will pick up the fourth wicket. Nothing going their way currently.
After 50 overs,India 200/3 ( Rohit Sharma 107 , Ajinkya Rahane 70)
Nortje back into the attack. SA pacers still not following Pollock’s advice and using cross seam. Still hitting the deck hard with upright seam. It is not helping much. Maybe Polly needs to step down for a while during the tea session and share his idea with his countrymen.
Most centuries by Indian openers in a Test series:
4 – Sunil Gavaskar v WI, 1970/71
4 – Sunil Gavaskar v WI, 1978/79
3 – Sunil Gavaskar v Aus, 1977/78
3 – ROHIT SHARMA v SA, 2019/20*
After 49 overs,India 200/3 ( Rohit Sharma 107 , Ajinkya Rahane 70)
We have more of Piedt left to be seen. Rahane cruises into 70s. Rohit cruising as well. SA’s small achievements are in stopping the two hitting the boundaries. Tea is only ten minutes away. A wicket here would keep the faith in Proteas.
BOSS!
🤘🤙#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/Q82AawwQOQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2019
Most tons for Indian openers in a Test series:
5 v SA, 2019/20 in India*
4 v WI, 19070/71 in West Indies
4 v WI, 1978/79 in India
4 v SL, 2009/10 in India
After 48 overs,India 195/3 ( Rohit Sharma 103 , Ajinkya Rahane 69)
Rabada continues. Another over goes by without a wicket. Proteas struggling to even stop the two batters from making runs. Short trackers from the bowlers have not really helped.
After 47 overs,India 191/3 ( Rohit Sharma 102 , Ajinkya Rahane 66)
Rahane and Rohit are pretty much just toying with the bowling right now. Rahane now going big and showing aggression against spinner. Think that should be it for the off spinner today after getting hit for that Rahane six.
After 46 overs,India 184/3 ( Rohit Sharma 101 , Ajinkya Rahane 60)
This partnership and the rate at which it has been built, has sucked the juice out of visitors. We can clearly see some dropped shoulders already and we are only done with half of the day today. SA can see the same trend being followed like it all happened in first and second Test when Indians continued to dominate with the bat and put a heavy price on their wickets.
After 45 overs,India 184/3 ( Rohit Sharma 101 , Ajinkya Rahane 60)
Rohit Sharma’s phenomenal 2019 continues. Third ton in the series. Just gets better and better, ageing like a fine wine. Meanwhile we can see the ground staff ready with the covers as it has gone very cloudy over the stadium.
After 44 overs,India 174/3 ( Rohit Sharma 92 , Ajinkya Rahane 59)
Rabada back into the attack. This is pretty much the most important spell today. If Rabada does not pick up a wicket here, it will be difficult for Proteas to stage a comeback at least in this innings. Five off the over.
After 43 overs,India 169/3 ( Rohit Sharma 91 , Ajinkya Rahane 55)
Rohit is unstoppable right now. He is not troubled by any of the bowlers currently. Just doing what he wants to do and that six off Piedt was one such example of the same. Complete dominance from Hitman. Has moved into 90s now.
After 42 overs,India 162/3 ( Rohit Sharma 84 , Ajinkya Rahane 55)
Ngidi continues. Good over from him. A maiden over from the pacer. SA need more of these maidens to put some pressure on Rohit and Rahane.
After 41 overs,India 162/3 ( Rohit Sharma 84 , Ajinkya Rahane 55)
Piedt continues and Proteas continue to suffer in hands of Rohit and Rahane, who have spent good amount of time in the middle and now scoring runs like it is a walk in the park. Rohit moves into 80s.
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