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Preview: Having won the Twenty20 and One Day International (ODI) series in comprehensive fashion, South Africa will aim to extend their dominance to the longest version of the game when they take on India in the first Test which starts at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium on Thursday. It will be a homecoming of sorts for the Indians, as it has been two years since they last played a Test series in their own country. In all likelihood, it will be a difficult task for them if the performances in the limited overs are anything to go by. This will be Virat Kohli’s first full home series as Test captain and the Delhi lad – who turns 27 on Thursday – is sure to face a trial by fire. [caption id=“attachment_2416864” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Virat Kohli. AP[/caption] The four-match series will be an improtant one for India as they will have an opportunity to climb to second position of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test rankings. However, climbing to the summit will not be easy for the fifth ranked Indians. Trailing top ranked South Africa by a fraction of a point, the hosts will have to win all four Tests. On the other hand, South Africa will vault to 130 points and India will plummet to 96 points if the visitors win all four Tests. Unlike the other touring teams to India, the South Africans have not only acclimatised very well but they have not lost their intensity, which can be gauged by the way they played in the T20Is and the ODIs, as well as in the two-day warm-up match against Indian Board President’s XI at Mumbai. The Indians will be without Ishant Sharma, who is serving a one-match ban for his aggressive approach and repeated confrontations with rival players during the recent tour of Sri Lanka. The hosts are expected to rely heavily on their spinners with in-form off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leading the charge. He can expect strong support from the other end from Amit Mishra, who was in good form in the ODIs. With the Mohali pitch expected to be a spin-friendly one, the Indians may opt for an additional tweaker and Ravindra Jadeja could be a perfect fit for the role. He has been in terrific form, in the ongoing Ranji Trophy and has claimed 38 wickets in three matches for Saurashtra. Fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron are expected to be the pace combination if Kohli decides to to stick to his stance of playing five bowlers. On the batting front, India will be spoilt for choices on with Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma in contention for the top order slots. Given his form in the ODIs Rohit may expect to be called up for the first Test ahead of the in-form Pujara. Ajinkya Rahane, Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha will form the rest of the middle-order. The Proteas will surely be counted as the favourites for this game after their stellar performances so far on this tour. Their pace attack has the speed and guile to pose difficult questions even on slow lifeless tracks. Veteran pacers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have bowled beautifully in Indian conditions and could always be counted upon to deliver the goods in crucial times. Young fast bowlers Kasigo Rabada has also done well on his first overseas tour and has quickly adjusted to the conditions. Vernon Philander, on the other hand, has not been handed too many chances so far and would be raring to prove himself. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir will spearhead the visitors’ spin attack with Dane Piedt expected to be the other spinner. J.P. Duminy, who bowled well in the ODI’s, could also play the role of an extra bowler if declared fit. Duminy is recuperating from an injury to his hand. His absence means Dean Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl could have to bowl more than usual. The South African batting looks formidable with AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis in excellent form. Elgar and van Zyl will add more firepower to their batting while Temba Bavuma is expected to come in if Duminy is unable to play. The only concern for the visitors is the form of their captain Hashim Amla. The stylish right-hander is struggling for runs and is yet to score a half-century on this tour. IANS
India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 1 as it happened: India fight back after being bundled out for 201
India will be without Ishant Sharma, who is serving a one-match ban for his aggressive approach and repeated confrontations with rival players during the recent tour of Sri Lanka.
 "India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 1 as it happened: India fight back after being bundled out for 201")
Honours even on Day 1. Strong comeback by India. Given turn, bite & bounce on the pitch already, will match go into 4th day is moot question
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 5, 2015
Stumps on day 2 – South Africa 28/2 (Elga 13, Amla 9)
Another beautiful over from Ashwin. After four off-spinners, Ashwin bowls a carrom ball, Elgar leaves it close to the off stump. He then finally manages to take a single to the leg side and then Amla decides to defend it solidly.
After 18 overs, South Africa 27/2 (Elgar 12, Amla 9)
India nearly had a wicket in that over. Mishra beat Amla’s outside edge with a couple of beautiful leg spinners. The second one flying inches past the off stump.
After 17 overs, South Africa 26/2 (Elgar 11, Amla 9)
Another good over from Ashwin. The first one jumped off the surface and spun viciously, Amla looked to flick but missed and it hit his pads before rolling on the ground. He then defended the rest cautiously, there was a stifled appeal of a caught behind off a delivery down the leg side but the umpire didn’t seem interested. Another maiden.
After 16 overs, South Africa 26/2 (Elgar 11, Amla 9)
Another tight over from Jadeja. Elgar was pretty cautious in his defense. Just three overs remaining now and the South African’s would be looking for survival.
After 15 overs, South Africa 25/2 (Elgar 11, Amla 8)
Ashwin beats Elgar with a ripper which turns and bounces viciously. Elgar was content at playing on the back foot. Ashwin bowled really well and varied his pace nicely. With Ashwin back we could sense that something’s got to give. A maiden over.
After 14 overs, South Africa 25/2 (Elgar 11, Amla 8)
Nice accurate over from Jadeja. Elgar wasn’t afraid of driving off the front foot despite the foot marks outside off. But he needs to be really careful.
After 14 overs, South Africa 24/2 (Elgar 10, Amla 8)
Aaron bowling in mid 140s and looked to bowl full in that over. Minimal swing available for him. Just one run off the over as the batsmen defended solidly.
After 13 overs, South Africa 23/2 (Elgar 9, Amla 8)
There a lot of rough patches developed outside the left-hander’s off. Ominous signs for the South African batsmen. Elgar looks to take the attacking route, goes for a slog sweep but ends up mistiming it to deep square leg for a couple. Jadeja then beats him with a straighter one. Elgar is ultra cautious off the next four ball.
After 12 overs, South Africa 20/2 (Elgar 6, Amla 8)
The South African batsmen looked at ease in that Aaron over. Three singles off it.
After 11 overs, South Africa 17/2 (Elgar 4, Amla 7)
A good tight over from Jadeja. Just one run off it.
After 10 overs, South Africa 16/2 (Elgar 3, Amla 7)
Amla has started off well. He looked confident in his defense and drove one nicely through extra cover for a boundary. He then whipped a short one through square leg for a couple.
After 9 overs, South Africa 10/2 (Elgar 3, Amla 1)
A brilliant first over from Jadeja. He too is getting it to turn along with Ashwin and these are ominous signs for the Proteas.
OUT! Jadeja strikes off just his second ball on comeback! F du Plessis b Jadeja 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)
Length delivery outside off, goes straight on with the arm. Du Plessis comes forward and decides to leave it. A poor decision, the ball goes on to shatter the timber. Jadeja is ecstatic and so is Kohli.
Hashim Amla is the new batsman.
After 8 overs, South Africa 9/1 (Elgar 3, Du Plessis 0)
A really good pacey over from Aaron. He troubled Elgar in that over. Elgar ducked under a sharp bouncer at the last moment and then got an inside edge onto an incoming delivery. Elgar lookad uncomfortable against Aaron’s pace. A maiden.
After 7 overs, South Africa 9/1 (Elgar 3, Du Plessis 0)
Excellent over from Ashwin. He scalped the wicket of Van Zyl in that over and looked pretty threatening. One run and a wicket off it.
OUT! Ashwin strikes early! S van Zyl lbw b Ashwin 5 (23b 1×4 0x6)
Length delivery on off, goes straight on with the arm. Van Zyl is caught in two minds whether to play or leave. He decides to leave it, the ball hits the back pad and the umpire lifts the finger. It looked plumb.
Faf du Plessis is the new batsman.
After 6 overs, South Africa 8/0 (Elgar 2, Van Zyl 5)
Good tight over from Umesh. He was disciplined with his lines (Yes you read it right). Just one run off the over.
After 5 overs, South Africa 7/0 (Elgar 1, Van Zyl 5)
Another lovely over from Ashwin. Van Zyl looked to defend one but it fell short of the silly point fielder. Elgar finally got off the mark with a single.Just one run off the over.
After 4 overs, South Africa 6/0 (Elgar 0, Van Zyl 5)
Umesh hits back well in that over. He strays the first one down the leg side and Van Zyl trickles it to fine leg for a boundary. Umesh is disciplined with his lines from then on. Just the boundary off the over.
After 3 overs, South Africa 2/0 (Elgar 0, Van Zyl 1)
A lovely over from Ashwin. Probably the sign of things to come. Van Zyl gets a leading edge along the ground off an off spinner and then he gets an inside edge behind square leg off a straighter delivery. Just one run off it.
After 2 overs, South Africa 1/0 (Elgar 0, Van Zyl 0)
A good start from Umesh. The variable bounce was on display in that over as Van Zyl missed a pull which kept a touch low and then the last one stays low too, Elgar does well to defend it. Just a leg bye off the over. Not much swing on offer for Umesh.
After 1 over, South Africa 0/0 (Elgar 0, Van Zyl 0)
A very good first over from Ashwin. He tossed it up nicely and nearly had Elgar who missed a straighter one but it seemed to be missing leg.
India all out for 201!
OUT! Another lovely googly from Tahir cleans up Aaron who misses his forward defense.VR Aaron b Imran Tahir 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
OUT! Tahir cleans up Umesh with a googly. UT Yadav b Imran Tahir 5 (7b 1×4 0x6)
Loopy and full outside off, spins back in. Umesh lunges forward for a prod but misses it completely, the ball sneaks through and rattles the timber.
Varun Aaron is the last man in.
After 67 overs, India 201/8 (Ashwin 20, Umesh 5)
We are into proper tail-enders now and it can be winessed. Umesh swings his second ball over mid-wicket for a boundary and then flicks one away to fine leg for a single. The 200 comes up too. 5 runs and a wicket in the over.
OUT! Philander gets his man! Jadeja departs. RA Jadeja lbw b Philander 38 (92b 4×4 0x6)
He kept binging the ball in, Jadeja missed most and the umpire kept turning down LBW appeals. But Philander kept bowling that inswinger and finally got the reward as he trapped Jadeja leg before. This has been a superb spell from him. A crucial knock ends.
Umesh Yadav is the new batsman.
After 66 overs, India 196/7 (Jadeja 38, Ashwin 20)
Another good battle in the over – This time between Tahir and Ashwin. Tahir beat Ashwin’s outside edge with a loveky leg spinner, Ashwin hit back by cutting one through point for a boundary. Tahir then beat Ashwin’s inside edge with a googly. 2 runs off the over.
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