Twitter Reactions: Rohit and Pujara set up colossal task for Proteas to evade defeat

India would be the happier side after the fourth day’s play in the opening Test versus South Africa in Vizag. After fighting to get the Proteas’ batters out, the Indian batsmen came out firing on all cylinders and have gained the upper hand once again. With one day left, Faf du Plessis and Co need 384 to win the game with nine wickets in hand and most importantly, 98 overs to play out the day.

Rohit and Pujara take charge

Senuran Muthusamy (33*) and Kagiso Rabada (15) ensured that South Africa’s trail reduced to 71 before getting bowled out. The last-wicket stand between Muthusamy and Rabada added 35 runs as the visitors were bowled out for 431. Ravi Ashwin nipped out Keshav Maharaj and Rabada to pick up a seven-wicket haul. India didn’t make a great start as Mayank Agarwal fell prey to Maharaj.

Cheteshwar Pujara (81) was slow to start, but picked up as he got his eyes in, hitting 13 fours and a couple of sixes. Rohit Sharma (127) carried on from where he left in the first innings. In his maiden Test as an opener, the Mumbai batter notched his second century in a row. After Agarwal’s wicket, it was his 169-run stand with Pujara that literally put an end to the Proteas chances of a victory.

Pujara’s brilliant knock was cut short by Vernon Philander after which Maharaj got Rohit stumped. Rohit smacked 13 fours and seven sixes to give India the ascendancy. Ravindra Jadeja (40) was promoted ahead of Virat Kohli (31) and it paid dividends. He wielded the willow, smacking three sixes. The skipper and Ajinkya Rahane (27) added the much-needed impetus to the innings.

India pushes South Africa in a rabbit hole

India eventually declared at 323, setting South Africa a target of 395 runs. Right from the outset, the spinners- Ashwin and Jadeja- were in operation. The latter struck first blood, pinning Dean Elgar, the visitors’ top-scorer in the first innings, in front after using the DRS. Kohli took the review with only four seconds left when the concern was about whether the ball pitched outside leg-stump or not.

The onus was then on Aiden Markram and Theunis de Bruyn to play out the remaining overs of the day. The floodlights took full effect and the umpires decided to call off play for the day with three overs remaining. Ashwin was also economical, having conceded only seven runs in his five overs. The Proteas have a herculean task ahead of them on a deck, which has produced 22 wickets in four days.

Here is how Twitter reacted on the day’s play

What a legend 🙏🏻🕺 pic.twitter.com/kiiTmf3EVs

— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) October 5, 2019

Take a bow🙇‍♀️@ImRo45 Eventually you are, where you belong to ! 👏👌

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) October 5, 2019

Rohit makes six-hitting look so effortless. Century in both innings. Couldn’t have asked for a better start to a new chapter in his Test career. Well played 👏👏 #IndvSA

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 5, 2019

ROHIT …… 👀👀👀👀👀👀

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 5, 2019

This time it’s Rohit not Virat….if you know you know 😂

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) October 5, 2019

Opening for the first time in Tests and scores 100s in both the innings. What a memorable Test match for @ImRo45 Well played. Keep it up. #matchwinner #INDvsSA

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 5, 2019

Rohit Sharma wah wah 1st inn 176 second Inn 126 and going strong.. mza aa gya @ImRo45 keep up the good work 💪 @BCCI @StarSportsIndia #INDvsSA

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 5, 2019

Played kepke @ImRo45 💯 💯 #kepke

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) October 5, 2019

Hitman is special !! 💯🏏!! @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/I6OoNYxV7S

— Mithun Manhas 🇮🇳 (@MithunManhas) October 5, 2019

Rohit Sharma is the only player to have hit 10-plus sixes each in a Test match, an ODI match and a T20I match.#INDvSA

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) October 5, 2019

Even after all these runs if India don't surround the batsmen with 4/5 fielders, no point of these

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 5, 2019

Leading run scorer after #IndvSA 2015 Test Series:-

Ajinkya Rahane – 266 in 6 innings
AB de Villiers – 258 in 7
Murali Vijay – 210 in 7

In 2019 thus far:

Rohit Sharma – 303 in 2
Mayank – 222 in 2
Dean Elgar – 162 in 2

Drastic difference.

— Devvrat Unadkat (@DevvratUnadkat) October 5, 2019

Jadeja reaction when the DRS reversed the onfield umpire's decision. 😂😂#INDvsSA #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/sExfcz9AZt

— Manish (@IManish311) October 5, 2019

Back to back 💯s in a test match.
Congrats to @ImRo45 #INDvSA@BCCI

— JaayShaan(Shankar) (@JaayShaan) October 5, 2019

Was that india playing a test match 🤔😅@ImRo45 the new legendry opener …. He just proved himself in the longest format & how 🙌

But for me the highlight is 'Pujji Bhag B******d' 😂😂#INDvSA#WorldTestChampionship

— Akshay Mittal (@akshay_mittal_) October 5, 2019

ROHIT SHARMA (176 & 127) v SA in 2019:

– Becomes the sixth Indian to score hundreds in each innings of a Test
– Hit 💯s in each innings of a maiden Test as opener
– 1st Indian to be stumped twice in a Test
– Hit 13 sixes in a Test – a record

#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/pOUegciueo

— ѕяєєкяιѕниα иαℓαвσтнυ (@sreekrishna_999) October 5, 2019

If you want to fix any player in opening slot, then he can't be another player other than Rohit Sharma.
Rohit can say that Opening slot belong to me.#INDvSA #Rohit @ImRo45 @BCCI

— Sarvesh Mishra (@TheSarvesh4) October 5, 2019

Rohit Sharma completes his 13,000 runs in International cricket.#INDvSA

— Akhil Gupta 🏏 (@Guptastats92) October 5, 2019