Confusion between the duo in the middle, after spending so much time together so far, led to Pujara getting run out after they took India to 113/2 from a precarious position of 24/2 early in their innings.
Pujara hit two boundaries in his vigilant 98-ball 25 knock.
On the other end, Kohli smashed his 8th half-century to lead India fightback against the hosts. The new India No. 4 (a slot Sachin Tendulkar occupied for 24 years) smacked nine boundaries to reach his fifty off 76 balls.
Kohli changed his approach after the lunch break as he played more patiently, after racing to run-a-ball 32 before the break.
After losing openers early, Kohli and Pujara make sure that runs keep on coming along with keeping the wickets in tact as they took India over 100 in post-lunch session.
Electing to bat, India lost openers Murali Vijay (6) and Shikhar Dhawan (13) early.
After toiling hard for more than an hour and facing as much as 42 balls, Vijay nicked a Morne Morkel delivery to keeper AB de Villiers and left India at 24/2 in 15.1 overs.
India got off to a bad start as Dale Steyn had Dhawan caught by Imran Tahir at fine leg in the ninth over.
Steyn gave the hosts the breakthrough after MS Dhoni won the toss in his 50th Test as Indian captain and chose to bat.
India are playing with three fast bowlers, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami. Ajinkya Rahane to bat at number six for India. Surprise exclusions of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja.
Teams:
India: MS Dhoni (Capt.), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (Capt.), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.
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