Rohit Sharma failed once again on Wednesday. In the ongoing third ODI between India and South Africa, the right-hander got out for a duck.
Rohit is in the middle of a horror tour at the moment. He'd faced heat for taking his Mumbai state-mate Ajinkya Rahane's place in the XI for the first two Tests, and went on to aggravate the situation by failing miserably in the whites.
Follow live coverage of the third ODI between South Africa and India HERE
With the commencement of the ODI series, fans were hopeful that the 'Hitman' would come good finally. After all, he's the only batsman ever to score three double-hundreds in the 50-over format.
As it has turned out, though, Rohit simply can't get going in South Africa. He has managed a grand total of 113 in seven innings on the tour so far. And it isn't just the lack of runs, it's the way he's getting out.
On Wednesday too, Rohit got out in a deeply frustrating way. Unsure whether to leave the ball or play at it, the 30-year-old ended up nicking an inside edge to the keeper.
Here's his dismissal
With his latest failure, Rohit now owns a record he'll be utterly ashamed of. Among Indian batsmen who have batted for a minimum of 10 innings in the top seven, Rohit now has the worst average in a particular country. He averages 12.10 in South Africa at the moment.
Here's the list of shame
1. Rohit Sharma in South Africa - 12.10
2. Ajit Agarkar in India - 15.66
3. Mohammad Kaif in South Africa - 16.81
4. Chandrakant Pandit in India - 18.44
5. Ravindra Jadeja in Australia - 18.45
South Africa won the toss and asked India to bat first in the third ODI of the six-match series at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli decided to go with the same playing XI which has won the last two ODIs. However, for South Africa, pacer Lungi Ngidi and right-handed batsman Heinrich Klaasen will make a debut, replacing injured Quinton de Kock and Morne Morkel. Meanwhile, Andile Phehlukwayo will replace left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
A 2-0 lead in the series by dismantling the hosts in the first two matches in Durban and Centurion with consummate ease has given the men in blue a boost in confidence. South Africa, on the other hand, have been hit by injuries, losing their top three players - skipper Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock.
AB de Villiers was ruled out prior to his side's six-wicket win over India in the first ODI while skipper Faf du Plessis was pulled out before the second match, which the visitors went on to win by nine wickets. Recently, South Africa's injury woes have only grown with Quinton de Kock ruling out of the remainder of the six-match ODI series and subsequent three-match T20I series against India due to a wrist injury.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (capt.), Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram (c), JP Duminy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir.
(Inputs from ANI)
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