India won the toss this morning and elected to bat first on the spin-friendly track.

Dale Steyn has been ruled out for the match due to a groin injury and the Proteas have opted to play with just four bowlers.

Morné Morkel is spearheading the attack, alongside Kagiso Rababa, while Simon Harmer and Imran Tahir are the frontline spinners.

This leaves South Africa with seven batsman and sees Elgar, JP Duminy and possibly Stiaan van Zyl as bowling options.

Murali Vijay and Shikar Dhawan got India’s innings off to a good start, but it was Elgar who dismissed the latter, caught and bowled for 12 runs, while Morkel trapped Vijay LBW for 40.

Captain Hashim Alma is of the view that with the track being conducive to spin, the spinner will play a key role, however, Steyn will be missed.

"Though the spinners have taken most of the wickets on the sub-continent, Dale’s record here is phenomenal, there is nobody better than him.

"The seamers who are going to play, definitely have a role and certainly our spinners are growing and getting better and better."

At lunch on Day 1 India is on 85/2 at the crease with Cheteshwar Pujara 18* and Virat Kohli 11*.

India leads the four-test series 1-0 after winning the first test in Mohali by 108 runs.

Morgan Piek/OFM News