Team India skipper Rohit Sharma’s return to action after the ODI World Cup campaign did not turn out to be as he expected with the opener losing out his wicket cheaply in the 1st Test against South Africa at Centurion.
The 37-year-old was sent back to the pavilion on just 5 runs courtesy of a Kagiso Rabada delivery, who dismissed the batter on previous 5 occasions as well.
Getting out while trying to hit a pull-shot, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out Rohit’s weakness in Tests and said “It’s interesting that his go to shot, the one shot that he plays in white-ball cricket that puts the opposition on the back foot, has been Rohit Sharma’s nemesis in test cricket. In the last two years, he’s been out seven times playing the pull shot. But the bowler deserves this as it was a great delivery.”
Rohit Sharma dismissed for 5 in 14 balls. pic.twitter.com/ZiKCDtfYOl
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 26, 2023
Rohit’s dismissal was followed by a top order meltdown featuring Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal being dismissed cheaply as well.
Pace Troubling Indians
With the Indian batting order struggling against the bounce and pace of Protea pacers, debutant Nandre Burger and Kagiso Rabada starred for the home team and made sure that the experienced batting lineup which also had a lot of depth in it won’t be able to get back any sort of momentum throughout the day.
However, KL Rahul managed to steady the Indian ship and scored a resilient fifty to take India on their way to a respectable total.
Also Read:IND Vs SA: Kagiso Rabada Reigns Supreme At Centurion With 14th Fifer