<p>Openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal negotiated a toothless South African seam attack to steer India to 83 without loss in overcast conditions at lunch on the opening day of the first test at Centurion Park on Sunday.</p>.<p>After India elected to bat, Agarwal (46) was the more aggressive of the two but was ably supported by Rahul (29) as they took advantage of a slow pitch that is expected to quicken up as the game goes on.</p>.<p>South Africa, playing their first test since June, could not build pressure as they bowled both sides of the wicket and did not make the batsmen play enough.</p>.<p>Fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi had not bowled a single delivery in red-ball cricket since their series win in the West Indies and they struggled to find the right line.</p>.<p>The home side toiled for 75 minutes before creating an opportunity, but it was spilt by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/south-african-and-indian-teams-observe-moments-silence-in-honour-of-tutu-1064874.html" target="_blank">South African and Indian teams observe moment's silence in honour of Tutu</a></strong></p>.<p>Debutant left-arm seamer Marco Jansen found the edge of Agarwal’s bat but De Kock, who move late to his right, dropped what should have been a regulation take.</p>.<p>It denied the 21-year-old his first test scalp and was a deflating moment for the struggling hosts.</p>.<p>Jansen was preferred to Duanne Olivier after the latter had been expected to play his first test since 2019 following a spell in English cricket. Jansen’s performances in the recent tour by India A appeared to get him the surprise nod.</p>.<p>He went for 12 in his first over and was wayward at times, but also beat the bat on a number of occasions and looked the most likely bowler to make a breakthrough.</p>.<p>India selected batsman Ajinkya Rahane in the middle order ahead of Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari, and a seam attack of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and all-rounder Shardul Thakur.</p>.<p>The touring side are hoping to secure a first test series win in South Africa with matches to follow in Johannesburg and Cape Town.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>Openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal negotiated a toothless South African seam attack to steer India to 83 without loss in overcast conditions at lunch on the opening day of the first test at Centurion Park on Sunday.</p>.<p>After India elected to bat, Agarwal (46) was the more aggressive of the two but was ably supported by Rahul (29) as they took advantage of a slow pitch that is expected to quicken up as the game goes on.</p>.<p>South Africa, playing their first test since June, could not build pressure as they bowled both sides of the wicket and did not make the batsmen play enough.</p>.<p>Fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi had not bowled a single delivery in red-ball cricket since their series win in the West Indies and they struggled to find the right line.</p>.<p>The home side toiled for 75 minutes before creating an opportunity, but it was spilt by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/south-african-and-indian-teams-observe-moments-silence-in-honour-of-tutu-1064874.html" target="_blank">South African and Indian teams observe moment's silence in honour of Tutu</a></strong></p>.<p>Debutant left-arm seamer Marco Jansen found the edge of Agarwal’s bat but De Kock, who move late to his right, dropped what should have been a regulation take.</p>.<p>It denied the 21-year-old his first test scalp and was a deflating moment for the struggling hosts.</p>.<p>Jansen was preferred to Duanne Olivier after the latter had been expected to play his first test since 2019 following a spell in English cricket. Jansen’s performances in the recent tour by India A appeared to get him the surprise nod.</p>.<p>He went for 12 in his first over and was wayward at times, but also beat the bat on a number of occasions and looked the most likely bowler to make a breakthrough.</p>.<p>India selected batsman Ajinkya Rahane in the middle order ahead of Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari, and a seam attack of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and all-rounder Shardul Thakur.</p>.<p>The touring side are hoping to secure a first test series win in South Africa with matches to follow in Johannesburg and Cape Town.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>