Rain ruined the second day of the Boxing Day Test match between India and South Africa which is underway in Centurion and the Day’s play has been called off without a ball being bowled. Unfortunately, the ground has taken a lot of beating, and with more rain on its way it became impossible to continue the day's play despite a long wait. The weather is expected to be clear for the following two days.
What started as a drizzle this morning became a steady downpour in the afternoon and with 90 overs lost in the game, Virat Kohli's men, sitting pretty at 272 for 3 after Day one, will now have to quicken up the proceedings in the remaining three days with a high probability of winning the match.
Twice, the rain stopped and umpires decided on inspection but on both occasions just before they were to step out, heavens opened up once again.
"Unfortunately, due to the large volume of rain today at Centurion, play has been called off for the day," BCCI stated on its twitter handle with a picture of the ground completely soaked.
At the end of the opening day's play, India were strongly placed at 272 for three in 90 overs.
KL Rahul was going strong at 122 not out off 248 balls, during which he hit 17 boundaries and one six. Giving him company at the other end was Ajinkya Rahane, on 40 off 81 balls, with the help of eight hits to the fence.
Opener Mayank Agarwal made 60 off 123 deliveries before being dismissed by Lungi Ngidi.
Skipper Virat Kohli made 35 off 94 balls.
Ngidi (3/45) picked up all the three Indian wickets to fall on the first day of the match.
However, if India would have thought of batting for nearly two days, they would perhaps look for a solid first innings score of 400 to 450 and put the pressure right back on the Proteas skipper Dean Elgar, senior keeper-batter Quinton de Kock and the seasoned Temba Bavuma in their ranks.
