Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for India on the first day of the second Test match against South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion on Saturday. Ashwin gave India the first breakthrough after the South Africans got off to a good start. Opting to bat first, Deal Elgar and Aiden Markram saw off the new ball only to fall prey to Ashwin who ended the day with figures of 3 for 90. Ashwin said failure to deliver for his team in the past hit his pride and hoped his three-wicket haul on day one was enough to keep India afloat in the second Test.

On a day when the seamers failed to make much of a dent on a easy-paced wicket, Ashwin showed his class as a bowler as the hosts finished day one at 269 for 6 at stumps day 1.

"I like to think I have kept us in the game. It could have so easily been a game where they could have run away with it after the second session. I like to believe I was just dogged enough," Ashwin said after the day's play. The first session of play belonged to South Africa. Openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram, the latter in particular, putting together an 85-run stand for the first wicket. After a decent start, the Indian bowlers sprayed, attempting to judge the right length again on a very slow wicket. The bounce remained erratic and so did their length. All of that took time as the hosts began freeing their arms. From 78 for no loss at lunch to 140-1 at tea, South Africa would collapse to 269-6. Given that the hosts have walked in with only five batsmen, that's quite a handful for Kohli's team going into Day Two.