Kohli 40 not out, India 141-4 in decider in South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — India reached 141-4 at tea on the opening day of the series-deciding third test against South Africa on Tuesday, helped by 40 not out from returning captain Virat Kohli.

Kohli missed the second test through injury, when South Africa levelled the three-test series 1-1 to set up a finale at Newlands in Cape Town.

This time, he held together India's first innings after the tourists were in trouble at 33-2 and again at 116-4.

Kohli faced 139 balls for his runs, a sign that the pitch wasn't easy. India won the toss and chose to bat as the world's top-ranked test team seeks to finally win a test series in South Africa.

Earlier, openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal were out in the space of six balls before Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara came together to take the tourists to lunch without any more damage.

They grew their partnership to 62 in the second session before Marco Jansen broke it to get Pujara caught behind for 43.

Kagiso Rabada (2-52) claimed his second wicket of the day soon after that when Ajinkya Rahane went for 9 caught behind by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne and after failing with a review.

India encountered trouble when cloudy skies at the start of the day aided South Africa's pace bowlers.

Rahul was caught behind off Duanne Olivier for 12 and Mayank fell in the next over for 15 to Rabada.

India made two changes for the decider.

Kohli was back in after an upper back spasm ruled him out of the second test in Johannesburg on the morning the game started. India also called in seamer Umesh Yadav to replace Mohammed Siraj, who has an injury.

South Africa selected an unchanged team after putting itself back in contention in the series.

India is hoping to finally crack South Africa on its eighth test tour to the country.

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