India were rattled by South Africa's quick bowlers on the first morning of the series between Test cricket's top two teams before Virat Kohli's counterattack took the tourists to lunch on 2-70 on Wednesday.
Openers Shikar Dhawan and Murali Vijay were out after being examined by pacey, short-pitched bowling from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Unsteady at 2-24, Kohli, 32 not out, and Cheteshwar Pujara, 18 not out, guided India through the rest of the opening session.
Steyn peppered Dhawan with short balls before the left-hander top-edged a pull to Imran Tahir at fine leg for 13.
Vijay nicked behind off Morkel for 6.
India won the toss in the first of two Tests and chose to bat and front up to top-ranked South Africa's pacemen.
