NEW DELHI: South Africa openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton justified captain Temba Bavuma's decision to bat first in the first Test against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
Rickelton and Markram got South Africa off to a flying start, dispatching Indian bowlers with ease and finding boundaries all around the ground as the visitors raced to 50 in the 10th over.
They also became the first South African opening pair to register a 50-plus partnership in India since Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie put on 61 in Kanpur in 2008. India's dominance at home was such that it took the Proteas 17 years to achieve their first fifty-plus opening stand on Indian soil.
However, India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah struck back, claiming two quick wickets by dismissing Rickelton and Markram in successive overs, shifting the momentum firmly in India's favour.
Pant returns to the team
A fit-again Rishabh Pant, who had suffered an injury in England in July, replaced all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Axar Patel was back in side in place of Sai Sudharsan in the playing XI as India opted to go with four spinners.
For SA, premier pacer Kagiso Rabada missed out due to a rib injury with Corbin Bosch replacing him.
