Team India opener Rohit Sharma after having scored two fifties earlier in the series hung in there to bring up his century at the Oval.
Team India opening batsman Rohit Sharma, one of the most consistent batsmen for his side throughout the ongoing series against England, brought up his eighth Test century and first one outside India with a six off the off-spinner Moeen Ali as the visitors strengthened their position in the fourth Test at the Oval.
Rohit, who was once called a home-track bully and considered to have a weakness against the moving ball, has - with a little tweak in his technique - been the most assured batsman for the Indian team and after two fifties, finally went on to make a big one.
Rohit was lucky not once but twice as England opener Rory Burns dropped him a couple of times in the slips, but Rohit ground out tough periods of play when the ball was doing something off the surface and the England bowlers were asking some questions.
But as the pitch has become better for batting as the match has progressed, Rohit put his defiance to good use - playing the ball on its merit and playing them a little late. Rohit since the last year has significantly has watched the ball till the last minute which has helped him bringing his feet down late and also avoiding the possible LBW calls.
Rohit played the second fiddle in both the partnerships - first with KL Rahul and then with Cheteshwar Pujara - but kept hurting England like an insect, slow but effective. He brought up his fifty off 145 balls but scored the next 50 in just 59 deliveries as Cheteshwar Pujara's counter-attack helped him ease into his innings and he started playing his shots when both of them were set and India were now on top of the game.
Pujara was hitting uppercuts and pull-shots, while Rohit was timing his cover drives and glances past the third man. He was on 90 before he hit a boundary off James Anderson towards mid-wicket and a six over long-on off Moeen Ali, as this was his third century that came with a six.
Skipper Virat Kohli, the whole team management and Rohit's wife Ritika Sajdeh were up on their feet as the 34-year old was all smiles with first overseas ton in Test matches.
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 "Rohit Sharma")
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