Rohit Sharma completes unique hat-trick with record of maximum sixes in a single Test
There is something about opening the innings for Rohit Sharma. It changes his playing style as the batsman brings out a much confident approach and is one of the best when it comes to switching gears swiftly according to the situation in the match for Team India. The 32-year-old continued his stellar run as an opener with a quick-fire half-century in the penultimate day of the first Test versus South Africa in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (October 5).
In the process, Rohit also achieved another record up his sleeves in his illustrious career. The right-hander has now slammed most sixes by an Indian in a match in whites. In fact, Rohit has the record of most sixes by an Indian in an ODI and T20I as well, hence completing a unique hat-trick of records. His six-tally read nine before he was brilliantly caught by Senuran Muthusamy at the deep, in what was an attempt by the stylish opener to take his tally to 10. However, there was a twist in the tale as the fielder had touched the boundary rope and hence it was later adjudged a six.
Rohit had hit most sixes by an Indian in an ODI versus Australia, in 2013, during his maiden double ton in the format. Later, he accomplished the same record in T20Is during India’s face-off versus Sri Lanka at home in 2017.
Courtesy his fifty, Rohit also achieved a significant feat playing at home. He now has fifty-plus scores in most consecutive Test innings in India (September 16- till date). In addition, the right-hander has already compiled most runs in his maiden Test as an opener. In the first-innings, Rohit played a well-composed knock, 176, and added a mammoth 317-run stand with his opening partner Mayank Agarwal (215).
With a 71-run lead from the first innings, Team India are in dire need of quick runs on the board to dismiss the South Africans in the final innings of the encounter. Thus, Rohit’s stay in the middle will surely keep the hosts on the verge of a quick declaration on the penultimate day of the first Test.
