Johannesburg: Virat Kohli stole the thunder on the first day of the first Test against South Africa as the Delhi boy, who had come out to bat at No.4 after Sachin Tendulkar's retirement, scored a scintillating century to bail India out of the precarious siruation after the hosts were reduced to 24/2 within 15.1 overs here on Wednesday.
Kohli scored a gritty 119, which was his fifth Test century, that helped India finish at 255 at close on a bouncy Wanderers track.
Ajinkya Rahane (43 batting) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 batting) were at the crease on an eventful opening day which saw the beleaguered Indian batting line-up giving a good account of themselves despite their only warm-up game being abandoned due to a wet outfield.
Kohli saved India the day as he counter-attacked the Proteas with strokes all round the wicket after openers Shikhar Dhawan (13) and Murali Vijay (6) were dismissed by Dale Steyn (1/56) and Morne Morkel (1/27) early in the innings. Kohli's knock included 18 sweetly timed boundaries in his 181-ball knock. He was very well supported by Cheteshwar Pujara (25) during their 89-run third wicket stand before Pujara was unfortunately run-out due to a mix-up.
Later Rahane also showed good temperament during their fifth-wicket stand of 68 runs as the young Mumbai batsman grew in confidence with passage of time.
Kohli was finally out giving a catch to Duminy at covers off Kallis' bowling.
After Kohli's dismissal, Dhoni played sensibly, putting up 36 runs with Rahane for the unbroken sixth wicket stand taking India past the 250-run mark in the 85th over.
