Dean Elgar was the surprise hero for South Africa with the ball as the part-time spinner claimed four wickets to bowl out India for 201 in their first innings. In reply, South Africa lost a couple of early wickets to reach 28 for two at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test in Mohali.
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South Africa's part-time spinner Dean Elgar turned out to be the unlikely hero as India squandered the advantage of winning the toss after being bundled out for 201 in their first innings on Day 1 of the opening Test in Mohali, on Thursday.
The Indian spinners though pulled back things a little bit by getting the early wickets of Stiaan van Zyl (5) and Faf du Plessis (0) early.
Replying to what seems like a below-par first innings score largely built around Murali Vijay's 75, the Proteas were 28 for two in 20 overs at stumps with Elgar (13 not out) and skipper Hashim Amla (9 not out) at the crease on a day which saw as many as 12 wickets fall on a track which giving assistance to the spinners.
India’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who opened the bowling attack, got Zyl trapped leg before wicket, while Jadeja cleaned up du Plessis in his very first over.
But it was left-arm spinner Elgar’s impressive figures of four for 22 that spun a web against an Indian line-up that failed to show application in mostly overcast conditions on a slow and low wicket.
Murali Vijay was the only Indian batsman to offer some resistance as he played a good innings of 75, while Ravindra Jadeja contributed with a vital knock of 38 with Ravichandran Ashwin unbeaten on 20.
Starting the post-lunch session on 82 for three, India saw some resistance from Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane (15), but the reintroduction of left-arm spinner Elgar into the attack again proved worthwhile for the Proteas.
Elgar grabbed two quick wickets, that of Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha, in successive overs. Rahane was the first to go as he went for a drive but only managed to edge it to Hashim Amla at first slip.
He struck again on the very first delivery of his next over, sending back wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who was also caught at first slip.
Vijay got to his fifty with a thickish edge that flew past the lone slip, for his 12th Test half-century. However, he failed to carry on and was dismissed by off-spinner Simon Harmer, who trapped him leg before wicket for 75.
Amit Mishra (6) also couldn't resist the temptation against Elgar's looping deliveries and was caught at mid-on attempting a big shot down the ground.
Jadeja and Ashwin put on 42 runs for the eighth wicket which enabled India cross the 200-run mark before the former was trapped leg before wicket by fast bowler Philander.
Leg-spinner Tahir cleaned off the tail as claimed both Umesh Yadav (5) and Varun (0) in the same over to finish with two for 23 in 10 overs.
Earlier, India, who elected to bat on winning the toss picked three spinners including Ravindra Jadeja as Rohit Sharma, who had a good run in the T20 and ODI series, was left out.
India were dealt an early blow when Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed without a run on board before Murali Vijay (40 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (31) steadied the innings somewhat with a 63-run stand only to see the South African bowlers strike back with a couple of quick wickets.
Vernon Philander drew the first blood with a moving delivery as Dhawan played a loose stroke without any footwork to offer a catch to Hashim Amla at first slip.
Dhawan would have been disappointed with his blob on a ground where he scored his debut hundred in 2013 -- a fantastic 187 against Australia.
Pace spearhead Dale Steyn kept up the pressure from other end as the batsmen found hard to score freely even as Pujara and Vijay squeezed in a few boundaries.
But the drama unfolded after the drinks break when India saw two quick wickets fall in the space of four deliveries to give away the advantage to the visitors.
The introduction of part-time spinner Dean Elgar proved to be an intelligent move as the left-arm slow bowler trapped Pujara leg before wicket for 31 in his very first over.
Kohli (1) walked out to the center amidst loud cheers from the sparse crowd gathered at the stadium but his stay lasted just four balls.
Debutant pacer Kagiso Rabada got the prized wicket of Kohli after the star batsman tried to check his shot off a length delivery and the leading edge went to Elgar, who completed a good low diving catch at cover.
The delight in the opposition camp was palpable as Amla kept on rotating the bowlers in his effort to make more inroads.
But Vijay, whose 80-ball stay so far has been laced with six fours, has mixed the right dose of caution and aggression to keep the South Africans at bay.
It was Pujara, who got the first runs for the hosts courtesy of an assured straight drive that went for a four against Philander.
Already the pitch has showed some signs of misbehaving as some deliveries stayed low with the Indian batsmen doing well to keep it out.
