South Africa took two early wickets before India reached lunch in Johannesburg on 70-2 in the first Test.

The two top Test sides in the world began the first of two Tests this morning with India's Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan taking to the crease after the visitors won the toss and elected to bat.

The tourists started off strongly with Vijay getting off the mark with a four, but Proteas bowler Dale Steyn managed to find his rhythm by dismissing Dhawan for 13, with India sitting on 17 runs at the time.

South Africa kept up the pressure when Morne Morkel nabbed his first wicket of the Test by getting Vijay caught out for just six runs from 42 balls.

Despite a positive start from the hosts, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli began to tot up India's run rate by reaching lunch on 18 and 32 respectively.

India are competing in their first Test match since the retirement of prolific batsman Sachin Tendulkar.