India vs Australia, 1st Test: Rohit Sharma led the way for India with a brilliant century on Day 2 of the Nagpur Test. The captain brought up his 9th Test hundred and his first against Australia.
Nagpur,UPDATED: Feb 10, 2023 12:57 IST
Rohit Sharma scored his first Test hundred against Australia (AP Photo)
By Akshay Ramesh: “Itna pitch mat dekho, cricket khelo,” Rohit Sharma had said on the eve of the first Test against Australia even as the chatter around the pitch at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur had reached its heights. Allegations of the doctored pitch had surfaced in the Australian media, days after former wicketkeeper Ian Healy had slammed “unfair” pitches in India.
Rohit Sharma, at his nonchalant, best had urged the players from the two sides not to get bothered by the chatter around the pitch and to focus on the job in hand. And Rohit did exactly that as he went on to hit a chanceless century on Day 2 of the 1st Test in Nagpur after Australia were bundled out for just 177 on the opening day.
Rohit Sharma looked in complete control as he was brisk against both spin and pace, showing the pitch critics that it’s not entirely impossible to put your head down and score runs in Nagpur. Rohit got to his hundred in 171 balls, leading India’s response with the bat on Day 2 of the much-anticipated Test series opener. Rohit hit 2 sixes and 14 boundaries as he brought up his 3-figure score.
It was Rohit Sharma’s first Test hundred as captain as the Mumbai batter will be mighty pleased with his efforts after having missed a series of matches as full-time captain last year. It was also his first three-figure score against Australia in Test cricket, going past the previous best of 63 not out in the Melbourne Test of 2018.
Rohit Sharma also emulated Virat Kohli by hitting a hundred in his first Test as captain against Australia. Virat Kohli scored twin hundreds in his first-ever Test match as captain, which came in Adelaide in 2014. Kohli was standing in as captain for MS Dhoni, who was unmovable for the series opener of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which was played Down Under in 2014-15.
Rohit also became the 10th India captain to score a Test hundred against Australia. He joined a elite list of superstar batters who have managed the milestone against the powerhouses of world cricket.
ROHIT WAGES LONE BATTLE
Rohit Sharma looked comfortable in the middle even as his teammates were troubled by the Australian spinners. R Ashwin was the first man to be dismissed on Day 2 as he became Todd Murphy’s second victim in Test cricket.
Cheteshwar Pujara threw his wicket away as he played a sweep shot that went straight to the short fine-leg fielder. Former captain Virat Kohli started on a good note, being proactive as he went to Lunch unbeaten on 12 along with Rohit, who was unbeaten on 85.
Rohit had to be more watchful after the Lunch as he lost more partners. Virat Kohli was caught down the leg side in the first delivery after the Lunch break against Todd Murphy.
Soon after, debutant Suryakumar Yadav was bowled by Nathan Lyon, who picked up his first wicket of the Test match in the 2nd session on Friday. Suryakumar was out for 8 after he tried to play an expansive drive through the covers but the delivery from Lyon sneaked through his bat and pad.
Rohit curbed his natural instincts and took on the responsibility of stalling the Australian charge as he lost his partners at regular intervals. It was in complete contrast to the way Rohit went about his business on Day 1 as he took on the likes of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, racing to 56 not out at Stumps.
