Rohit slams maiden Test double ton, shatters Bradman's record

Opener Rohit Sharma registered his maiden Test double ton before departing to Kagiso Rabada bowling and Lungi Ngidi’s firecracker catch at fine leg on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday (October 20).

Sharma is the only 4th batsman to hit a double hundred in Test and ODI cricket. With his double century, he joins the elite list of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Chris Gayle. He also holds the record for the highest score in the 50-over international format — 264 and has three double tons in ODIs.

India dominated the morning session before skipper Virat Kohli declared the first innings at 497 for 9.

However, the Proteas could not continue their innings as bad light brought about an early end to the second day’s play.

Poor visibility meant the India players walked back to the dressing room barely five overs into the South African first innings after the tea break.

The hosts reached 357 for four at lunch with Sharma’s 212 off 225 balls and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane’s 11th Test century and his first ton at home in three years.

After scoring 212 Sharma’s average in Tests on home soil rose to 99.84 which breaks the record of highest average at home in minimum 10 innings, previously held by legendary Don Bradman.

Bradman scored 4,332 runs in 33 home Tests between 1928 and 1948 at an average of 98.22 now surpassed by Sharma’s 99.84.

Sharma hit the double hundred with 28 boundaries and 4 sixes and thus becomes the first batsman to score a 200-plus in Tests after scoring his double centuries in ODIs.

100 ✔
150 ✔
200 ✔@ImRo45 you beauty ? pic.twitter.com/FDMXsjlwcr

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2019

He is now the 5th Indian opener after Vinoo Mankad, Budhi Kunderan, Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag to score 500 runs in a Test series.

Sharma is also the 3rd Indian batsman after Mayank Agarwal and Virat Kohli to score a double century in the ongoing South Africa tour of India.

Also read: Play called off due to rain on Day 1 of third Test, showers predicted for Day 2

Rohit also broke the world record for the most number of sixes hit in a Test series on day one of the third and final Test in Ranchi.

Rahane was dismissed by George Linde at 155 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja contributed with 51 before the last two Indian batsmen were called back at the stroke of tea.

With the hosts raising their dominance over the game after the Proteas dismissed the Indian top-order at 39/3 on day one, day one was called off due to bad light and rains. However, India scored 224/3 in 58 overs.

Rain may affect the second day’s proceedings as well, the local weatherman predicted.

“There is a possibility of thundershowers and lightning at isolated places in Ranchi. Chances are less by Monday onwards,” an official of the Indian Meteorological Department, Ranchi, said.

Day one largely remained overcast with sun playing hide and seek and there was a brief drizzle in the second session.

The weatherman blamed it on the cyclonic circulation positioned over east-central Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring areas.

Brief scores:

India 1st innings: 497/9 declared in 116.3 overs

(Rohit Sharma 212, Ajinkya Rahane 115; George Line 4/133, Kagiso Rabada 3/85).

South Africa 1st innings: 9/2 in 5 overs