Top 3 Test Knocks By Rohit Sharma vs South Africa
Rohit celebrating his hundred. (AP)
As the eagerly anticipated Test series against South Africa approaches, all attention will be focused on India's formidable batting lineup, particularly Rohit Sharma.
The Indian skipper's remarkable rise in Test cricket, highlighted by a stellar performance against Australia earlier this year, is hard to overlook. As India embarks on what is considered the "ultimate challenge," Rohit will aim to continue his exceptional run of form with the bat.
Rohit’s rise in Test cricket in the last few years has been nothing short of remarkable. Once known for scoring runs on flat conditions and at home, Rohit has shown that he has the technique and temperament to succeed in overseas conditions. However, unlike India, Rohit has a poor Test record in South Africa. In the eight innings in South Africa, Rohit has only scored 123 runs at a poor average of 15.38 with a personal best of 47. The Hitman will have to improve his record in South Africa if India wants to win the Test series in the rainbow country.
Ahead of the Test series, let's take a look at three of Rohit's best knocks in Test cricket against South Africa. The list includes some of Rohit's finest centuries against the Rainbow Nation.
212 (255) in Ranchi
Rohit was at his absolute best in Ranchi. (AP)
Rohit had three ODI double hundreds before he smashed his first Test double ton in Ranchi in 2019. The Hitman had answered his critics with an impressive performance in the opening game of the series. However, his stellar show was far from over.
At the JSCA in Ranchi, it was the Hitman show as Rohit showed his class by scoring 212 runs off just 255 balls, laced with 28 fours and 6 sixes, dismantling the South African bowling attack. The Men in Blue were in trouble early on, losing three wickets – Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli inside 20 overs with the ball moving quite a bit.
Rohit successfully navigated a challenging spell from the pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, proving his adaptability against the moving ball. Capitalizing on the inexperienced South African spinners, George Linde and Dane Piedt, Rohit, along with Ajinkya Rahane, orchestrated a recovery, taking the team from 43/3 to 224/3 by the end of the first day's play.
While Rahane secured his hundred the following day, Rohit achieved his maiden double century in Test cricket. His remarkable score of 212 played a pivotal role in India's commanding victory against South Africa in 2019.
176 (244) in Vizag
Rohit walking out of the ground. (X.com)
After Rohit’s dream run in the 2019 World Cup in England, the team management made a decision to elevate Rohit Sharma to the opening position in Test cricket after KL Rahul's continuous struggles in red-ball cricket over the preceding 18 months. The Vizag Test marked Rohit's debut as a Test opener, and he certainly lived up to the expectations, validating the team management's choice with an immediate impact.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, Rohit navigated through the initial half-hour without any mishaps. Once the pitch lost its favor for the pacers, Rohit seized the opportunity.
He capitalized on the smallest errors in line and length made by the South African bowlers, adopting an ODI-like approach to score 176 off 244 balls, laced with 23 fours and six sixes. India emerged victorious in the Test by 203 runs, securing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Rohit Sharma, in his first Test as an opener, clinched the Player of the Match award for his outstanding performance, scoring twin hundreds, one in each innings.
127 (149) in Vizag
Rohit broke many records with his second innings hundred in Vizag. (AP)
Having dismantled South Africa with an exceptional innings of 176 in the first innings, Rohit continued his batting brilliance on Day 4 of the first Test in Vizag, smashing another remarkable century to bolster India's position. Rohit's spectacular knock of 127, crafted from 149 deliveries and featuring 10 fours and 7 sixes, propelled India to a swift total of 323 in the second innings.
In his own counter-attacking style, Rohit's performance left the South African bowling attack in disarray. Cheteshwar Pujara provided valuable support, initially starting slow before accelerating to contribute 81 runs.
The Vizag Test showcased India's formidable batting prowess. With Rohit stealing the limelight by scoring centuries in both innings in his debut as an opener and Mayank Agarwal adding a classy double hundred in the initial innings, India declared at 502 for 7. Despite Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock's commendable hundreds narrowing the deficit for South Africa, India proved too formidable in the fourth innings, securing victory by a substantial margin of 203 runs.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")
![[Watch] When Ricky Ponting Became The 1st Player To Score A Ton In Both Innings In His 100th Test](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1702984743021_1702982856364_ricky.jpeg "[Watch] When Ricky Ponting Became The 1st Player To Score A Ton In Both Innings In His 100th Test")