IND vs SA: KL Rahul 70 takes India past 200 after Kagiso Rabada five-for on rain-marred Day 1 in Centurion

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IND vs SA: On a rain-marred Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park, Kagiso Rabada picked a five-wicket haul to derail the Indian top-order, before a gritty KL Rahul scored unbeaten 70 to help the hosts finish at 208/8 in 59 overs.

Only nine overs of action took place after the tea break as rain and bad lights forced the umpires to stop the day's play. Mohammed Siraj is the unbeaten overnight batter for India alongside KL Rahul. Siraj faced 10 balls but is yet to get his name on the scoresheet.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma elected to bowl first after winning the toss which took place with a delay due to wet patches on the ground.

South Africa pacers proved his decision right by picking three wickets inside 12 overs. Debutant Nandre Burger picked the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal (17) and Shubman Gill (2), while Rabada helped hosts get rid of Rohit Sharma (5) with a short ball.

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer got a lifeline each. Both were dropped at individual scores of four. The duo led India's recovery with a 68-run partnership off 95 balls between the two for the fourth wicket. India finished the first session at 91/3.

However, the momentum soon shifted in the favour of South Africa after lunch. Kagiso Rabada removed Iyer (31), Kohli (38) and Ravichandran Ashwin one after the other to leave India reeling at 121/6 in 35 overs.

Rabada bowled a peach of a delivery to send Kohli packing. The master batter committed himself to play an in-swinging delivery but was left stunned as the ball moved away after pitching, generating an edge and landing into the gloves of Kyle Verreynne.

It was then that Shardul Thakur showed grit once again and acted as a perfect companion to KL Rahul - India's best batter on the opening day of the first Test. A much-needed 43-run partnership brewed for the seventh wicket.

Thakur was shaken by a Gerald Coetzee bouncer which left him with a swollen forehead. He faced seven more deliveries after the incident before Rabada completed his first-ever five-wicket haul against India.

KL Rahul took the centre stage after the wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter's partnership with Jasprit Bumrah lasted for 50 balls. Rahul faced 31 balls and scored 24 runs during the period, while Bumrah faced 19 deliveries for one run.

Same was the case with Mohammed Siraj. He did not open his account but stood bravely with Rahul who scored 17 runs off 17 balls after his arrival. The two would look to take Indian total past 250.