Kohli had actually raced to 44, his highest score in the series and looked good for much more when he was sent out by South Africa’s most successful bowler off-spinner Dane Piedt, who had figures of 4/101 to show for his efforts.
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Morné Morkel (0/40 in 17 overs) bowled with great pace and control without reward, but Amla will be concerned about Tahir’s performance as the leg-spinner conceded 36 runs in seven overs.
Ajinkya Rahane, unbeaten on 89, ensured that India finished at a very respectable 231/7 at the end of the first day.
As against his home average of 22.66, Rahane is averaging 46.37 in overseas Tests.
In a series that has been dominated by spin-aiding conditions with games ending within three days, Piedt and Rahane were a welcome and refreshing change.
By winning all the four tosses in the series, Virat became the second Indian captain to win all the tosses in a series of four or more Tests.
But, when the Proteas had India 139/6 at tea, having taken 5/79 in the session, they must have been well pleased with their work and have anticipated chasing down a small first innings target before the close.
He discovered an able ally in Rahane, who also found some form going his way as the duo added 50 runs for the 4th wicket in only 48 minutes dealing with 67 balls. Opener Murali Vijay was early to depart as spinner Dane Piedt dismissed him for just 12 early in the innings.
The hosts were also helped by the fact that South Africa were one reliable bowler short. If he does go on to complete his fifth Test century, it will be his first on home soil.
Piedt played a solitary Test against Zimbabwe in August 2014 before sustaining a problem which sidelined him for eight months, returning to take four wickets before play was ended early due to bad light on Thursday.
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How costly that missed opportunity will prove to be for the South Africans will be known on Friday, as Rahane swiftly moved on to 89 not out off just 155 balls (9×2, 2×6). There were only two significant partnerships – 70 between Kohli and Rahane for the 4th wicket and 59 for the 7th wicket between Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja (24). He connected it well too, but it popped up in the air after hitting Temba Bavuma at short-leg. Only in the previous over, he was let off by Amla, who dropped an easy catch at first slip, but soon after, Rohit played an appalling stroke to throw his wicket away. There was a heart-in-the-mouth moment in the last half an hour when the Mumbaikar edged Piedt, operating from around the wicket, to Amla at slips, but the South Africa captain grassed his second of the day.
