Openers Open what looked like a Shut Case post-Australia

Remarkable first wicket partnership of 132 from South Africa. It may have done at least two things.

First, it will have definitely settled the South African nerves for the rest of the series, and given them confidence that they can, once again, take on India in India (Remember the 2000 series loss which had ended India’s 13-year-undefeated streak at home!). The battle at hand is real. Now India will have to get past the Proteas before taking on Australia later this year, if they are to stake real claim to the number one ranking. They have the talent in all the departments, but, for now, also have a very gritty opposition in South Africans.

Second. It may have also shown the necessity of going in with five bowlers in conditions as testing as Chennai's. In fact, in the subcontinent the team is better served with five batsmen-five bowler formula. The sixth batsman may or may not be able to score any runs, but an additional bowler will almost surely take some important load off the top-four choices.

To be fair to the Indians, it is not that their bowling was all at sea against the South African opening pair. The threat was very real in the first few overs and with little bit of luck, both the openers would have been back quite early. Somehow, even the best of deliveries simply failed to find the edge. But this very failure may have set the series beautifully. A crumbling South Africans in the very first session at Chennai would have surely found it very difficult to recover. But after such a great start, one can surely expect some electrifying contests in the days to come.