Rohit Sharma has been in the form of his life, and the Australian bowlers have been struggling to get him out in Nagpur. Rohit’s 171-delivery hundred was a testimony to his class and his ability to bat for long hours. It was a masterclass from the Indian opener, who held the Indian innings together with a brilliant knock.
Australia had their best chance to remove Rohit early in the day when he was batting on 56, but the chance was grassed by Marcus Harris at first slip. The Australian bowlers kept bowling tight lines and lengths but Rohit was up to the task, playing with caution and yet finding the boundaries when required. He had the right mix of patience and aggression, which made him an ideal opener.
Rohit’s century will have a huge impact on the match, and the fact that he did it as the Indian captain will add even more value to his innings. The Indian dressing room, including the support staff, was in awe of Rohit’s innings and the way he carried himself on the pitch. Ravindra Jadeja, who was at the non-striker’s end, was ecstatic, as he hugged Rohit after he reached the milestone.
The Indian captain has been leading by example, and the rest of the team will now look to follow his lead. If India can put up a big total, it will put a lot of pressure on the Australian batting order, which has already shown vulnerability in the first innings.
The Nagpur pitch, although slow, hasn’t offered much to the bowlers, and the Indian batsmen will look to take advantage of it. With the likes of Rohit, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja still to come, India will look to set a daunting target for Australia. The Indian bowlers, led by Ravichandran Ashwin, will then look to make the most of the conditions, and Australia’s vulnerability, to level the series.
