India vs SA: Record-breaking Rohit smashes second successive ton
India's senior cricketer Rohit Sharma has eased into a new chapter as an opener in Test cricket. The 32-year-old smashed a second successive century in the ongoing first Test against South Africa in Vizag. After hitting a splendid 176 in the first innings, Rohit managed another three-figure score (127) to impress one and all. Here's more on Rohit.
Rohit shared a majestic opening stand in first innings
Rohit scored a brilliant brilliant 244-ball 176 in the first innings. In that innings, he shared a record-breaking 317-run stand for the opening wicket alongside Mayank Agarwal, who went on to hit 215. They became the third Indian opening pair to amass 300-plus stand in Tests. It was also India's best partnership for any wicket against SA in Tests. India declared at 502/7.
Magnificent Rohit smashes a host of records
In the second innings, Rohit went on to continue in the same vein. This was his fifth career century in Test cricket. He also notched his second century against the Proteas in Tests. Rohit got past the 1,000-run mark in Tests at home. He also registered his seventh successive 50-plus score in Tests on home soil.
Rohit gets along with Pujara to stitch 150-plus stand
Rohit's knack of getting involved in mega partnerships continued. In the second innings, Rohit got along with Cheteshwar Pujara (81) to smash a 169-run stand for the second wicket. Pujara smashed 13 fours and two sixes to register his 21st career Test fifty. The two also amassed the third-highest partnership runs for the second wicket against SA in Tests.
Rohit goes past Sidhu with this unique record
Rohit notched six sixes in the first innings and followed that up with seven maximums in the second (total of 13). He now has the record of hitting most sixes as an opener in a Test match among Indians, going past former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu (against Sri Lanka at Lucknow in 1994). Meanwhile, Rohit is also averaging 100-plus in Test cricket at home.
Rohit smashes these records as well in the second innings
Rohit now has the most runs in the maiden Test as an opener. He became the second Indian opening batsman in Tests to smash two centuries in a Test match. Sunil Gavaskar (1971 and twice in 1978) is the only one to achieve the feat thrice. Rohit is the first player to score two tons in the maiden Test as an opener.
Rohit had scripted these feats in the first innings
Earlier, with the 176-run knock, he became the first Indian player to score a century in each Tests, ODIs and T20Is as an opener. He also became the first Indian opener to hit four sixes in a Test innings before completing a century in this decade. Rohit became the fourth Indian to score a century in the maiden innings as an opener in Tests.
Other impressive records scripted by Rohit
Rohit is now the first player to hit more than 12 sixes in a Test match, going past Wasim Akram's tally of 12 maximums against Zimbabwe at Sheikhpura in 1996. He also became the first Indian player to be dismissed twice stumped in a Test.
How has the match panned out?
SA managed 431/10 in their first innings. For India, spinner R Ashwin took seven wickets. He raced to 349 Test scalps. In the second innings, India lost Mayank early on for 7. However, Rohit and Pujara got along to make sure the lead gets increased.
