India 231/7 (84.0 Ovs)
Rahane 89 (155)
Ajinkya Rahane, who was dropped by Hashim Amla, played a flawless innings otherwise ©cricketonline.org
End of Day 1: A good session for India comes to an end early due to poor light. They score 92 runs , losing just a solitary wicket of Ravindra Jadeja. India end Day 1 on 231 for 7, the highest total amassed by any side in this series. Ajinkya Rahane is unbeaten on 89 and walks off the field with Ravichandandran Ashwin.
The scoreboard might see to be favouring South Africa. But under the conditions that were on offer, India would be happy with the total.
Amla drops 2nd catch: Ajinkya Rahane gets a lifeHashim Amla drops his second catch of the day. To make matters worse, both were easy chances. Dane Piedt did well to get the outside edge of Ajinkya Rahane's bat. But it seemed as if the South African captain had butter fingers.
India lose 7th wicket: Ravindra Jadeja was looking good while he was in the middle. But, with runs flowing easily, he found it tough to keep the ball on the ground, eventually leading to his dismissal. Dane Vilas takes a brilliant low catch. India lose their seventh wicket and Kyle Abbott gets his third wicket.
Ravichandran Ashwin has come out to bat.
Another 50 partnership: Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane have stabilised the Indian innings, putting on 50 runs for the seventh wicket partnership. The left-hander is taking the attack to the spinners, while Rahane is getting the easy singles. This is his second half-century partnership of the match. No wicket has fallen in the third session.
Ajinkya Rahane's 8th Test 50: A short-pitched delivery pulled towards square leg for a boundary - Ajinkya Rahane brings up his eighth Test half-century. After a poor string of scores in India, Rahane played extremely well today. Even as wickets have fallen at a quick rate from the one end, he has held on brilliantly from the other. A superb knock so far!
150 Up: After a slow start, Ravindra Jadeja has got his feet moving. He is coming down the track to attack Dane Piedt. Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane is going along easily as India take their total past the 150-run mark, with six wickets down. The off-spinner has been bowling a long spell from one end.
Jadeja joins in: Ravindra Jadeja has walked out to bat alongwith Ajinkya Rahane after Tea. Morne Morkel is operating from one end mixing up his length. Jadeja seems a bit uncomfortable against the short-pitched deliveries angled towards his body. Dane Piedt continues to probe the batsmen from round the wicket.
Sixth Down: Wriddhiman Saha dismissed before TeaFast and straight - Kyle Abbott gets his second wicket as Wriddhiman Saha looks to play a drive and ends up getting an inside edge on to the stumps. India go into Tea at 139 for 6, adding 79 runs for the loss of five wickets in the second session. Kohli and Rahane were the only players who looked at ease on the pitch.
However, the Indian skipper had a bit of bad luck and some good fielding by South Africa to get rid of him. Rohit Sharma was simply looking for ways to get out and eventually found one. Meanwhile, Rahane saw a procession of players walking back to the dressing room.
Ugly: Rohit Sharma OUT!Nah, Rohit, nah! Facing just the first ball of Dane Piedt, Rohit Sharma decided to send the ball outside the park. However, the ugly hoick resulted in his downfall. Just one deliver after getting dropped, Rohit decided to give South Africa another chance. India are in dire straits with five wickets down. Piedt has four in his kitty.
Rohit Sharma survives: Hashim Amla drops regulation catchKyle Abbott tempts Rohit Sharma with a delivery outside off-stump. The Mumbai batsman pokes at it and gets an outside edge. However, Hashim Amla drops an easy catch to give India their second lifeline of the innings
OUT!: Virat Kohli's misfortune continuesThe Indian skipper plays a sweep shot, but it bounces off the body of the silly mid-on fielder. Dane Vilas acts quickly and takes a brilliant catch to send Kohli back to the pavilion. Dane Piedt gets his third wicket and India lose their fourth.
Kohli-Rahane add 50: Even as the pitch is turning and offering uneven bounce, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane are scoring at a brisk pace. The duo added a half-century stand for the fourth wicket to wrestle back the initiative from the visitors. In the process, Ajinkya Rahane has brought up his highest Test score in India and Kohli has gone past his highest score in this series. Nonetheless, this continues to be a challenging wicket for the batsmen.
100 Up: Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have taken India past the 100-run mark. South Africa are operating with spinners from both ends - Imran Tahir and Dane Piedt. Even as the spinners are getting assistance from the wicket and Hashim Amla has set an unconventional field on the leg side, the Indian duo has had little difficulty in finding gaps.
Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first in Delhi. © cricketonline.org
Wicket: Familiar goodbye for PujaraCheteshwar Pujara is bowled through the gate yet again. He fails to read the line of an innocuous delivery by Kyle Abbott. A bit of extra pace does the trick as Pujara fails to get the bat down in time. With both the set batsmen back in the pavilion, South Africa have seized the initiative in their favour early on in the second session.
Virat Kohli and Ajikya Rahane are at the crease.
OUT: Dhawan falls for 33Wicket soon after the Lunch beak for South Africa. Struck on pads, right in front of the off-stump, followed by a loud appeal. Oxenford took his time to give that one but a brilliant call at the end of the day. Impressive bowling from young Piedt. Dhawan walks back for 33 and brings Virat Kohli at crease. Loud cheers for the local boy.
Summary: Shared session for India, South AfricaQuite a dramatic morning session for the hosts. Vijay and Dhawan started off slowly after Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat. Vijay, in particular, looked a bit edgy. Correction he'd been struggling throughout! He was lucky to receive an early lifeline, thanks to a no-ball from Abbott. Vijay poked at an outside the off delivery to AB de Villiers in second slip, but the third umpire, after a dozen replays, decided Abbott had overstepped. Vijay however didn't survive long, edging another one to Amla at first slip this time.Meanwhile, Dhawan, who has been struggling so far to get going in the series, seemed at ease at his home ground. The left-hander showed a lot of patience early in the innings, taking 18 balls to get off the mark, and more importantly seeing off the initial spell from pacers without any harm.
Team India switched gears soon after Vijay's wicket with Dhawan hitting a couple of lovely boundaries while it was Pujara who entertained the audience right before Lunch with the first six of the game. The duo have added 30 runs for the unbeaten second wicket stand.
Join us back in 35 minutes for the second session on Day 1 of the Kotla Test.
50 up: India 60-1 at Lunch on Day 1Spin comes into picture, shortly before Lunch. Dhawan brings up Team India's fifty with a single off Piedt. And would you believe it if I tell you Pujara has hit the first six of the game? Not the kind of shot you would usually associate with someone like Pujara. Full-toss and the batsman has deposited this one into the stands. Mind you, it was Pujara who hit the first six of the game in Mohali as well! Anywhoo folks, its time for Lunch on Day 1 at the Feroze Shah Kotla.
OUT: Vijay falls for 12Vijay clearly hasn't learnt anything from the reprieve he got earlier. Pokes at another delivery outside off, looking to push this one through the covers, only to end up giving away an outside edge to Amla in first slip. Here comes an end to his struggle this morning, and Piedt is delighted! Just the breakthrough South Africa were deprived of few overs ago.
Pujara is the new man in and he gets off the mark with a single.
Nasty blow: An untimely break as Vijay has been hit in the stomach. The awkward bounce again, Vijay moved forward in defence but the ball edges his elbow and then hits him in the stomach. The batsman in cringing in pain.
Lifeline for Vijay: Abbott no-ball saves VijayOh boy, here's the first wicket. Or maybe not. The umpires are checking for the no-ball. Abbott's foot has landed precisely on the line. His heel rather, and there is nothing behind it. Umpire took his time, checking the replays multiple times in the process and finally calls it a no-ball. South Africa and Abbott are certainly no pleased. Vijay had poked at another delivery outside off, the edge flew straight to AB de Villiers in second slip who look a fine low catch but Abbott had overstepped, or so suggests the replay.
Vijay regretted the shot the moment he hit it. He's lucky to have survived this one so early in his innings. Can he make the most of this?
Steady start: Dhawan finally gets off the mark with the single off the 18th delivery. Quiet start for Team India, just 14 runs coming of the 11 overs bowled.
New addition at Kotla: 
Let's go!: Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan walk out to open India's innings. Morne Morkel starts off with a maiden over. Kyle Abbott from the other end.
Viru honoured at Kotla: There was a special felicitation ceremony before the start of play in Delhi for Virender Sehwag, the swashbuckling opener who recently announced his international retirement. Viru, for the better part of his career, has represented Delhi in domestic circuit. His family - wife, two kids and his mother - are all here for the special occasion.
"I would like to thank all my captains, friends and coaches who have helped me to reach where I am. A big thanks to Ganguly, Dravid and Tendulkar for moulding me in my career," Sehwag said. © BCCI
Anurag Thakur presented Viru the memento: 
Gunning for Glory: Team India have already defeated the no.1 Test side in this series with victories in Mohali and Nagpur. However, a win here in Delhi will help India jump two places to the second spot in the ICC Test rankings.
Toss: India elect to batVirat Kohli, in his first match as captain at his home ground in Delhi, has won the toss and elected to field. India have brought in Umesh Yadav for Amit Mishra. South Africa have made three changes to their line-up. Temba Bavuma, Kyle Abbott and Dane Piedt come in for Stiaan van Zyl, Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer. Remember, Dale Steyn was ruled out of this Test as well due to his groin injury.
Looks like a bat-first pitch, announces Sunil Gavaskar.
So here we are! Delhi is the venue for the fourth and final Test of the series, which India lead by 2-0. While South Africa would be aiming to restore some pride by winnning this game, Indian skipper Virat Kohli declared yesterday that the team will be "ruthless"' in its approach. "We are not satisfied with 2-0, we want to finish with 3-0," Kohli said at his pre-match presser.
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