Rohit also became the only cricketer to hit seven consecutive Test fifties on home soil.
Opener Rohit Sharma on Saturday became the first India opener in 41 years to record twin centuries in a Test. He struck another one hundred on Day Four of the first Test against South Africa.
Rohit's 127 off 149 – studded with 10 boundaries and seven sixes – helped India set a 395-run target. In reply, South Africa lost first-innings centurion Dean Elgar, who was trapped low by Ravindra Jadeja for 2. The visitors ended the day at 11/1, needing another 384 runs to win.
Playing the first Test at Visakhapatnam, Rohit followed his 176 in the first innings with yet another century – the fifth of his Test career — off 133 balls. Before him, former captain Sunil Gavaskar had done so in 1978-79 against the West Indies.
During his innings, Rohit shattered a plethora of records. He surpassed former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu to hit most sixes in a Test match for India. Sidhu had struck eight sixes at Lucknow in 1994 against Sri Lanka, a record which lasted 25 long years.
Rohit also became the only cricketer to hit seven consecutive Test fifties on home soil. He holds the record for hitting the most sixes for India in a single match (Tests, T20Is, ODIs). Besides, Rohit also has the most runs by a player opening for the first time in a Test. Currently, he has 303 runs, going past Kepler Wessell's tally of 208 runs against England in Brisbane 1982.
India No. 3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who enjoyed a 169-run stand for the second wicket with Rohit, praised the Mumbai batsman for his knock. "It was a joy to watch him bat. The way he hits sixes is incredible and as a Test batsman, who wants to improve his ODI and T20 cricket, there is lots to learn from him. Especially, when it comes to hitting the ball out of the park," added Pujara.
Most sixes in a Test match for India
- 13 Rohit Sharma vs South Africa, Visakhapatnam, 2019
- 8 Navjot Singh Sidhu vs Sri Lanka, Lucknow, 1994
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