WATCH | KL Rahul makes a fool of SA keeper with clever decision, leaves bowler Gerald Coetzee livid

KL Rahul set the stage alight with a brilliant knock against South Africa at Centurion. The Indian wicketkeeper smashed his 8th hundred on his return to the Test team. Following a brilliant ODI World Cup, Rahul has now showcased his potential in the longer format sending stern messages to his critics. He became the first overseas Test batsman to score more than one hundred at the Centurion.

3 things you need to know

• India is taking on South Africa in the first Test
• KL Rahul scored a magnificent century in the first Inning
• India posted a respectable 245 on the board

Also Read: 'He's made himself undroppable in all three formats': Sunil Gavaskar goes gaga over India star

KL Rahul rode on his luck towards his 8th Test century

It was a smooth proceeding as Rahul battled the South African pace lineup with utmost finesse. But he also had his fair share of luck in the innings as the game panned out. Rahul took the help of the tailenders to bail out his country in the 1st Test. Prasidh Krishna was facing Gerald Coetzee and decided to leave the ball which went down his leg side. Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne collected the ball and as Rahul completed the run from the non-striker's end, Verreynne didn't show any intent to have a go at the wicket.

The incident left the bowler very livid and incidentally, Rahul banged a six in Coetzee's next ball to complete his hundred. India finished the first innings at 245 as Rahul's century became a real difference in the match so far.

Also Read: Rabada''s fifer limits India to 208/8 as rain forces early stumps on Day 1

Indian batters failed to perform their duties  

Among the Indian batters, except for Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, no player managed to get the job done. Both Rohit Sharma and SHubman Gill fell very cheaply and Yashasvi Jaiswal too failed to take up his chances. This is India's first Test after their ODI World Cup campaign which was held on Indian soil very recently. Earlier, Team India claimed the ODI series 2-1 and will also seek their first Test series win in South Africa.