India vs South Africa: Rohit Sharma scripts history, beats all Indian openers to huge feat in first Test against South Africa
IND vs SA: Rohit smashed an unbeaten ton on his first outing as opener in the longest format to enter the record books and also silence his critics who questioned his temperament to play in red-ball cricket
India opener Rohit Sharma added a fresh feather into his already illustrious cap during the first day of the first Test against South Africa at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Rohit smashed an unbeaten ton on his first outing as opener in the longest format to enter the record books and also silence his critics who questioned his temperament in red-ball cricket. Rohit’s 115* took India to 202/0 before rain washed out the final session of day 1.
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With the help of his fourth Test ton, Rohit became the first Indian opener to slam centuries in all three formats. Rohit’s first three tons came while playing in the middle-order and this was the first instance where he was opening the innings in Tests and he marked it with a sensational ton to put India in a commanding position.
Also, Rohit became the eighth batsman in the world to score a century in Tests, ODIs and T20Is as an opener after Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Ahmed Shehzad, Shane Watson, and Tamim Iqbal.
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Speaking at the end of the day’s play, Rohit said that opening the batting always suited his game as he loved to wear his pads and walk straight out to take part in the action.
“I think it suits my game, just wear the pads and bat. Waiting game, when I used to bat at five or six number, I won’t say it didn’t suit my batting. Your mind is fresh, we know we have to play the new ball. You know the bowlers who are bowling with the new ball do, so the game plan is easier for you. You know you have to face the new ball and these will be the fielders. At six, the ball is reversing, field placement is different and you need to keep all those things in mind. That game of wearing the pads and going in to bat suits my game,” said Rohit.
