Virender Sehwag vs Rohit Sharma: A comparison of their first 30 tests

India opener Rohit Sharma became only the fourth batsman in the history of international cricket to hit a double hundred in Test and ODI cricket after Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle. His whirlwind innings of 212 came off a mere 249 balls with 28 boundaries and four sixes in the ongoing Test between India and South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.

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He also became only the 5th Indian opener after Vinoo Mankad, Budhi Kunderan, Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag to score 500-plus runs in a Test series. Sehwag was the last Indian before Rohit to achieve the milestone. Sehwag had hit 544 runs against Pakistan in a three-Test series at home in 2005. Rohit has been in tremendous form after being promoted as an opener in the ongoing Test series vs South Africa. He has already scored three centuries in the series with one of them being a double century that he scored on Day 2 of the Ranchi Test.

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Sharma completed his double-century with a six much like former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag. This was a fitting tribute to the former Indian opener, who celebrates his 41st birthday on Sunday. In the process, Sharma also crossed the 2000-run mark in Test cricket in his 30th Test.

Let us have a look at Rohit Sharma's & Virender Sehwag's Test career after 30 Tests, which makes for an interesting comparison.

Rohit Sharma Test stats from 30 Tests:

In the 30 Tests & 51 innings that Rohit has played, he has gone on to score 2,114 runs at an impressive average of 48.05 with six centuries & 10 half-centuries to his name. His strike rate has 59.32, which is pretty high one for the longest format of the game. The Mumbai lad has scored one double ton (212), which is also his highest score in the format. Sharma has hit 213 boundaries & 51 sixes in his Test career till date.

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Virender Sehwag's stats from his first 30 Tests:

On the other hand, birthday boy in his first 30 Tests across 49 innings, went on to score 2,525 runs at an impeccable average of 52.60 with eight centuries & half-centuries each to his name. His strike rate is expectedly one of the highest ever in the game at 71.31. The Nawab of Najafgarh scored one triple ton (309) against Pakistan during this period, which is also his second-highest score in the format. 

Both the batsmen remarkably scored a century on their Test debuts as well which turned out to be in the month of November. Sehwag scored 105 against South Africa in Bloemfontein on November 3, 2001 while Rohit made a fine debut with 177 against West Indies in Kolkata 12 years later on November 7, 2013.

India ended Day 2 of the third test against South Africa in Ranchi on top. After declaring at 497 for 9, Indian seamers took no time to rattle the South African top order as they sent back both the openers inside the first two overs, leaving them reeling for 9/2 at Stumps.

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