South Africa vs India 2018: 2nd Test, Day 3, 5 things we learnt from the day

#4 The Ashwin - Rabada battle

Ashwin played some ridiculously good shots in a spirited knock. credits: Cricket country

Ashwin walked out to a steaming Kagiso Rabada armed with an old ball. The no.1 Test bowler constantly peppered him with a late swing into him before changing the tactic and opting to go short quickly. While it had the off-spinner in a tangle a couple of times, he started going into the counter-attacking mode and the boundaries came thick and fast.

He hit Rabada for a hat-trick of boundaries at one point after the tall seamer had mixed the short ball with full ones. The seamer came back storming, though, with a sensational next over that nearly got rid of Ashwin. The off-spinner was lucky to survive Rabada's searing spell under the scorching sun.

He made 38 in a 71 run stand with Kohli before he was dismissed by Vernon Philander in the first ball he faced against the new ball.