NAGPUR: India lost both their opening batsmen to reach 85 for two wickets at lunch on the first day of the third test against South Africa on Wednesday.

India captain Virat Kohli had no hesitation in opting to bat first after winning the toss at the VCA Stadium with the pitch expected to assist the slow bowlers.

The surface provided prodigious turn for the spinners from the first session of the match, which South Africa, currently the top-ranked test team, need to win to level the four-match series.

Part-time left-arm spinner Dean Elgar broke India's opening stand by dismissing Shikhar Dhawan (12) after the left-hander had added 50 with Murali Vijay.

Dhawan advanced down the wicket but could only manage to spoon the ball back to the bowler, who took a smart diving catch.

Vijay (40) looked in control during his knock before he was done in by a Morne Morkel delivery that straightened after pitching to hit the batsman plumb in front of the wicket.

Currently the top-ranked test bowler and leading the South African pace attack in absence of injured team mate Dale Steyn, Morkel tested Kohli (11 not out) with a probing line outside the off stump but the hosts managed to go into the break without further damage.

Cheteshwar Pujara (18) was the other unbeaten batsman at the crease.

Both sides went in with an extra spinner for the match with India opting for leg-spinner Amit Mishra and South Africa adding off-spinner Simon Harmer to their line-up.