IND vs SA: Shardul Thakur left with swollen forehead after being hit by Gerald Coetzee bouncer

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IND vs SA: Shardul Thakur was left with a swollen forehead after being hit by a Gerald Coetzee bouncer on Day 1 of the first Test match between India and South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

On the third ball of the 44th over, Gerald Coetzee bowled a vicious short pitched delivery which hit right-hand batter Shadrul flush on his forehead. The ball hit his helmet as the Mumbai batter was outdone by the pace and bounced from the South Africa quick while trying to execute a pull shot.

The all-rounder was immediately catered to by Team India physio. Rinku Singh, and other members of the support staff also gathered around Shardul Thakur as the mandatory concussion checks were carried out. Umpires, Paul Reiffel and Langton Rusere kept a close watch at the proceedings.

Team India physio was also seen rubbing the swollen part on Shardul Thakur's forehead. The 32-year-old changed his helmet and started to bat again after a good ten minutes break.

He survived seven more deliveries before Kagiso Rabada got his wicket to complete his 14th five-wickethaul in Test cricket. Shardul Thakur played a solid drive but Dean Elgar managed to take a sharp catch at short mid-off. He looked livid as he walked back to the pavilion.

Shardul Thakur scored 24 runs off 33 balls and stitched a handy 43-run partnership for the seventh wicket with KL Rahul. India were asked to bat first by South Africa in the first Test. After the fall of Shardul Thakur's wicket the Indian scorecard read 164/7 in 46.2 overs.