South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis’ plan to play an extra seamer did not work his favour in the second Test against India in Pune. Home team skipper Virat Kohli exploited the Proteas bowling attack as was the part of two major partnerships built on the second of the play.

He stitched a 178-run stand with his deputy Ajinkya Rahane for the 4th wicket and then a giant 225-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. Moreover, he slammed his career-best and record-breaking 254 not out to post a mammoth 601/5d in the first innings.

After the day’s play, vice-captain Rahane said his communication with Virat Kohli while batting together helps a lot.

“The way we batted (took us to a score in excess of 600). There was assistance for fast bowlers, Mayank batted well. It was important to play that one hour really well in the morning. We were thinking about 500+,” Rahane said at the post-match presser.

“We (himself and Kohli) enjoy each others' company. We (Virat and Rahane) communicate really well whenever we bat together. We knew we were one batsman short and we had to get that partnership going. That partnership between us was really important,” he added.

Besides Kohli, Mayank Agarwal scored 108 on Day 1 while Ravindra Jadeja (91), Rahane (59) and Cheteshwar Pujara (58) added to the cause with half-centuries.

Praising the batting show put up by Kohli and Jadeja, Rahane said, “The manner in which Virat and Jaddu batted, it looked so easy from the outside. I don't think it's a 600+ wicket, it's a 450-500 runs wicket.”

India pacers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami took two and one wickets each respectively to reduce the tourists to 36/3. Rahane said if they keep finding the right areas to bowl to, India will win by a big margin.

“If we can bowl in the right areas, we'll win by a good margin. Fast bowlers have good assistance if they bowl in the right areas. The ball is turning, Ashwin and Jadeja can bowl on any track,” he said.