KL Rahul scored his fifth century outside Asia on Sunday against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion to put India in a commanding position of 272/3 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa.
India were also bolstered by a fine half-century by Mayank Agarwal who scored 60 and strong support from Virat Kohli (35) and Ajinkya Rahane (40 not out), which helped their team to end the day on a high.
Rahul remained unbeaten on 122, having faced 248 balls while hitting 17 boundaries and one six to produce a spectacular knock that laid a strong foundation for the Indian team, which is eyeing their first ever series win in South Africa.
The day belonged to India on Sunday, the Boxing Day, when their batsmen produced a strong display throughout the play. While Rahul was impeccable during his innings, the others in Agarwal, Kohli as well as Rahane showed tremendous promise to notch up big scores.
The only minor blip in the day came in the form of first-ball dismissal for Cheteshwar Pujara, who was removed by South Africa fast bowler Lungi Ngidi.
A strong foundation was laid by the opening pair of Rahul and Agarwal who added 117 runs in a little over one session, producing the first century stand for India in South Africa since their tour in 2010. While Rahul went on to make a spectacular century, Agarwal was dismissed on a ball that skidded and hit him on the pads with DRS producing a surprising result of leg before against the right-handed India batsmen.
South Africa bowlers had looked ordinary on the opening day and it was evident in the way they bowled particularly in the first session. But Ngidi provided the home team with smiles in the second session when he struck twice in as many deliveries, removing Agarwal and Pujara. The India No 3 batsman Pujara was caught on short leg for a first-ball duck, which also happens to be his second golden duck in Test cricket that too against the similar bowler and at the same venue.
India captain Kohli, who has gone without a century in any format for more than two years, looked strong and set for a big score but he chased one outside the off stump to be caught in the slips for 35, which came from 94 balls and four boundaries. Before his dismissal, Kohli had helped India revive from 117/2 to reach 199/3, adding 82 runs for the third wicket with Rahul.
Earlier in the day, India had made a surprising call by continuing with their struggling former vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. When it looked like Rahane would miss being selected for this Test, the Indian team management continued to back the senior batsman and he did not disappoint. Rahane played an aggressive knock of 40 not out from 81 balls, hitting eight boundaries by adding another 73 runs unbeaten for the fourth wicket with Rahul to take India to a strong position.