Run machine Rohit Sharma struck his second century of the match to help India set South Africa a daunting victory target of 395 on the fourth day of the first Test on Saturday. The visiting team was 11-1 when bad light ended play for the day, Ravindra Jadeja having trapped first-innings centurion Dean Elgar lbw for 2, after India had declared on 323-4.
Sharma followed up his 176 in the first innings with 127 in the second, hitting 10 fours and seven sixes in his 149-ball knock. The total of 13 sixes he struck in the match is the most by an Indian batsman in any test. He also became the first player from his country to score centuries in both innings of his maiden test as opener.
Sharma joined compatriots Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar (three times), Rahul Dravid (twice), Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane by recording two hundreds in the same Test. On the downside, he added an unwanted record by becoming the first Indian to be stumped twice in a test, having been dismissed by Keshav Maharaj for the second time in the game.
Sharma, who struck the fifth test century of his career, put on 169 for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara (81). Pujara was lbw to Philander after tea, which prompted India to push Jadeja up the order for some quick runs. He obliged with 40 off 32 balls, including three sixes.
Rohit Sharma celebrates after slamming century. (Source: AP)
Chants of ‘Larry, Larry…’ rang out in the stadium when the American basketball great was shown on the big screen. So much so that the 62-year-old, a winner of three NBA titles, three MVP awards, and two Finals MVP awards, who is otherwise known for his stoic demeanour and deadpan expressions, rose and waved at the crowd. “It was definitely louder last night than today with all the adults (in the stands),” Pacers’ coach Nate McMillan observed. Read more
Three former India captains — Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Dilip Vengsarkar — were the notable exceptions when it came to applying for membership of the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA). Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble have soughtmembership. Among others, Gautam Gambhir, a member of parliament, too hasn’t applied. Read more
It was indeed a knock strewn with near-dismissals as Cheteshwar Pujara came close to being out four times, three sharp catches and one tough stumping miss, but it was a fascinating knock nevertheless. Especially the phase where he broke free from being stuck on single-digits and almost caught up with Rohit Sharma. The fascination lay in the contrasting approaches between the two batsmen. Read more
Of late there has been a little bit of Sachin Tendulkar about Rohit Sharma’s batting. Not in the batting style but in the approach, even to the extent of Rohit’s shot selection. The slow boil of a Test match allows one to watch and savour that trait that bit more. On Saturday, he became the first Indian opener after Sunil Gavaskar in 1978 to have scored two hundreds in the same Test as he powered India to a position of strength. Read more
The land of Chhara is credited to a mythical hunter, and its wrestling pedigree to fabled pehelwans. Fact remains that the output of grapplers is down to modern academies and good old one-upmanship. The Indian Express travels to the village which is a feeder to Chhatrasal and responsible for shaping Deepak and Bajrang Punia. Read more