The third Test match between India and South Africa in Nagpur is perfectly poised going into Day 2 on Thursday.
After deciding to bat first, India's batsmen failed to find their groove, getting bowled out for 215. At the close of play, South Africa are on 11/2 in nine overs, after losing Stiaan Van Zyl and nightwatchman Imran Tahir. Dean Elgar and skipper Hashim Amla are at the crease, and the two batsmen, no doubt, will want to put on a big partnership in the first session.
The Nagpur pitch was expected to aid turn, and so it did, with the South Africa spinners getting plenty of purchase. It was the South Africa fast bowlers, though, who impressed the most, with Morne Morkel, who unfortunately suffered an injury, in particular, playing a vital role in bowling India out for a lowish score.
"All our batsmen really applied themselves well," Sanjay Bangar, India's batting coach, said strangely, when quite a few of them didn't. "When the wicket is slightly challenging, there are likely to be certain errors in judgment. But that is just a part of the game.
"It is a very challenging wicket to score. So far we have had six completed innings in the series and this has been a low scoring series, which we need to accept."
While the 215 total is not that bad on this wicket, India will know they should have done better and now it will be up to the home team's bowlers to ensure South Africa don't score too many runs in the first innings.
South Africa, on the other hand, need to find their batting mojo. That mojo has deserted them so far in this series, with only AB De Villiers really looking capable of scoring runs consistently on these wickets.
On Day 2, South Africa need to come up with a proper gameplan in terms of their batting and execute it perfectly, because if they do that, the India bowlers will come under pressure, and then, in turn, make mistakes which the batsmen will be able to take advantage of.
Where to Watch Live
Watch all thr highlights of Day 2 HERE
Read about South Africa's first innings HERE
India vs South Africa 3rd Test, Day 2 is scheduled for a 9.30 am IST (4 am GMT, 6 am SAST, 12 am ET) start. Live coverage of the Test match in India will be on Star Sports 3, Star Sports 1 and, Star Sports HD3, Star Sports HD1. The match can also be watched via live streaming online on Starsports online and Hotstar .
OSN Sports and OSN Play (live stream) will broadcast the third Test match in the Middle East and North Africa live. Viewers in South Africa can watch the Test match live on SuperSport, with the online live stream option on SuperSport Live.
Audience in the US can watch India vs South Africa 3rd Test match live on Willow TV, and the action can also live streamed on Willow TV online. Sky Sports 2 is the place to be to watch India vs South Africa live in the UK, with the live streaming online option on Watch Sky Sports.
