Published 13:46 IST, October 19th 2019
'Hitman' Rohit Sharma brings up sixth Test ton in style with six
Rohit Sharma's hope to replicate his form from the first Test continued to head in the right way as the star opener brought up his sixth Test ton on Day one
Rohit Sharma's hope to replicate his form from the first Test continued to head in the right way as the star opener brought up his sixth Test ton on Day one in Ranchi. After losing their top-order batsmen early in the day, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane stitched a crucial hundred plus runs partnership, steadying India's innings after an early collapse. Rohit Sharma raced to his third ton in this series with a fast-paced knock studded with 13 boundaries and four sixes. With his sixth Test ton, Rohit Sharma has also completed 2000 runs in the longer format of the game. Rohit Sharma brought up his century in style with a six.
Rohit Sharma scores his sixth Test ton
India's top-order rattled by Proteas pace
South Africa's pacers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje wreaked havoc through India's top-order as they grabbed three scalps in the first session of the third Test in Ranchi. Kagiso Rabada picked up the two important scalps of opener Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara while Anrich Nortje managed to trap skipper Virat Kohli for an lbw. All eyes are now on the Hit Man Rohit Sharma, who will look to replicate the knocks of his dream Test debut in the third and final Test. South Africa made five changes to their side after losing the second contest by a mammoth margin to India.
Virat Kohli laughs as Proteas lose toss yet again
Nothing seemed to work out for South Africa as they lost the toss in the third Test even though Temba Bavuma made the call in place of skipper Faf DuPlessis. India's skipper Virat Kohli along with presenter Murali Karthik burst into laughter as soon as the Indian skipper won the toss, making it the ninth consecutive time that Faf DuPlessis has lost the toss in India. Faf DuPlessis had expressed his intentions to send his deputy Temba Bavuma out to call for the toss in his place to break the jinx but even that did not work out for the Proteas skipper. Virat Kohli, who elected to bat first in Ranchi, called it a 'no brainer' to bat first in the third and final Test, as India will hope to complete the whitewash and extend their lead at the top of the Test Championship.
Updated 13:55 IST, October 19th 2019