The veteran Indian opener, Rohit Sharma could not have asked for a better start to his Test career as an opener. He is one of the best ODI and T20I batsmen in the world, but he was failing to leave a mark in the longest format despite making his debut in 2013. Some injuries and the form of others has seen him warm the bench more often than not.
India finally decided to try him out as an opener in the ongoing first Test against South Africa and he grabbed the opportunity with both his hands. In the first innings, Sharma smashed 176 while sharing a mammoth 317-run stand with fellow opener Mayank Agarwal who scored 215.
WATCH – Rohit Shouting At Pujara For Denying A Single
Rohit then scored another ton in the second innings which has put India in a situation where their chances of losing the Test match are negligible. India started poorly as Agarwal fell cheaply but Sharma made sure that the Proteas do not make further inroads in the game. He along with Cheteshwar Pujara batted India out of trouble with a 169-run stand before the latter was dismissed for 81.
With India looking to win the game, they needed to score quickly and Rohit did exactly that. He reached his century off just 133 balls with the help of 9 fours and 4 sixes. He also became the sixth Indian to score a century in each innings of a Test match. And as soon as Sharma reached the three-digit mark, the cricket fraternity was quick to laud him. He also scored a hat-trick of sixes before getting out at 127 in the next over.
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Rohit became the first Indian opener to scored two centuries in a Test match in his maiden Test as an opener and After Sunil Gavaskar, he has become the first Indian opener to do so. He also broke the record for the most number of sixes (13) hit by a batsman in a Test match. India declared at 323/4 and gave a target of 395 to the Proteas with around 110 overs to bowl for the hosts.
Here are some of the reactions:
Take a bow🙇♀️@ImRo45 Eventually you are, where you belong to ! 👏👌
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) October 5, 2019
1️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ in the first innings
1️⃣2️⃣7️⃣ in the second inningsRohit Sharma has made a fine start to his career at the top of the Indian batting order! pic.twitter.com/etlLDVKTlb
— ICC (@ICC) October 5, 2019
Sanjay Manjrekar: Rohit has never been stumped.
Rohit Sharma gets stumped twice in the same Test.
This is a jinx beyond our capabilities. #INDvSA
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 5, 2019
Rohit and Pujara return unbeaten at Tea 🔥
🇮🇳 lead by 246 runs 👏🏻 #OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #INDvSA @BCCI pic.twitter.com/0ohn5j0Tmg
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1180442703311462402?s=20
A special test match for Rohit Sharma. Class and elegance and two centuries. Not a bad way to begin a new chapter in a career!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 5, 2019
#INDvsSA#RohitSharma scored 176 in 1st Inning & Now 106* in 2nd Inning..Upar se saying "Puji Bhaag BC"#ViratKohli reaction :- pic.twitter.com/7kUOI3tGnN
— CRIC BUZZ (@nawaabshahab) October 5, 2019
Rohit Sharma looking at the critics after scoring back to back hundreds as a test opener. pic.twitter.com/vxF0h0pfYA
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/SanjuRo045/status/1180422639422017537?s=20
https://twitter.com/zaid_wazi30/status/1180425915597250560
Watching Rohit Sharma opening the test innings reminds me of one the best entertaining batsman of all time in cricket history –> @virendersehwag What an entertaining innings by @ImRo45.. doesn't felt like watching test match #INDvsSA
— Shailesh Medhekar (@MedhekarS) October 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/RomanaRaza/status/1180425445671497728
