Twitter Reactions: Rohit and Rahane put India in command after early jitters
The duo has shared an unbeaten partnership of 185 off 42.3 overs.
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After the first hour of the third Test in Ranchi, South Africa had their tails up. On the other end, at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, India had their backs pushed to the walls. But Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane pulled the home team out of the pits and guided them to safer shores. At the close of play on the first day, India stand at 224 for the loss of three wickets in 58 overs.
Rabada and Nortje wreak havoc
The Proteas lost their third toss in the series and were again put in to field first. Unlike the first two games, the visitors’ pacers came out firing on all cylinders. Kagiso Rabada found the outside edge of Mayank Agarwal’s flashing blade and Dean Elgar backed him up with a catch at third slip. Then the speedster pinned Cheteshwar Pujara for a nine-ball duck to set the cat amongst the pigeons.
Virat Kohli started with a couple of fours, but couldn’t carry on. Anrich Nortje, who went wicketless in the Pune Test, trapped the Indian skipper to pick up his maiden Test wicket. Having been reduced to 39/3 in 15.3 overs, things weren’t looking pretty for the hosts. It was then the turn of Ajinkya Rahane and opener Rohit Sharma to inject momentum into the innings from a tricky situation.
Rohit and Rahane help India
Rohit grafted in the first part of his innings, bringing up his half-century off 86 balls. Once he reached his fifty, the Mumbai batter stepped on the gas. The 32-year-old was severe on off-spinner Dane Piedt and even reached his ton, his third in the series. Rohit deposited the off-spinner over long off to accomplish the milestone. From 50 to 100, Rohit took only 44 balls and got the ton off 130 balls.
Rohit stayed unbeaten on 117 with 14 fours and four sixes. On the other hand, Rahane didn’t go into the shell either. He lent support to Rohit and remained not out on 83 runs off 135 deliveries with the help of 11 fours and one six. At around 3 PM in the afternoon, it went dark and play was halted due to bad light. Around 45 minutes later at 3:45, play was officially called off for the day.
Here is how Twitter reacted on the day’s play
ROHIT … 👀👀👀👀
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 19, 2019
Rohit has scored three centuries in this series but this one has to be the best by a fair margin. It wasn’t easy to see through the first session…and then…him activating ‘beast’ mode is a sight. Nobody hits sweeter sixes than him. Ro’ Superhit’ Sharma 👏👏 #indvsa
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 19, 2019
Hitman’s third 💯 of the series !!seems to have taken a liking to this proteas attack !! Well played for the century yet again @ImRo45 . pic.twitter.com/41AMKe6sQo
— Mithun Manhas 🇮🇳 (@MithunManhas) October 19, 2019
What a joy to watch the class of #RohitSharma . 3rd century of the series and I would rate this as his best. pic.twitter.com/KZlxVb57p1
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 19, 2019
Performer's of the day at Ranchi ☺
Rohit 🏏
Rahane 🏏
Rabada ⚾
Rain ☔ #INDvSA #SAvIND#INDvsSA #SAvsIND#Rohit #Rahane #Rabada #Rain— Bhavin Rudani (@bhavinjr_) October 19, 2019
Another 100 💪👌⭐️⭐️🏏…played some amazing shots keep it up shaana @ImRo45 @BCCI
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 19, 2019
Gorgeous,simply gorgeous that from Rohit. 👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏#INDvSA
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 19, 2019
Rohit…Rahane…Rabada…in Ranchi today. #IndvSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 19, 2019
Wednesday could be a tourist trip to the Ranchi waterfalls for the South African's. Indian spinners already licking there lips. #INDvSA #cricket
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) October 19, 2019
Congratulations #ShahbazNadeem your hard work in domestic cricket eventually Paid off. #greatday
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 19, 2019
Not a bad start by the Proteas!
— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) October 19, 2019
What a spell this is from Rabada!
— Shai Hope (@shaidhope) October 19, 2019
By Golly..for the 1st time Sth African shoulders are not drooping..& @KagisoRabada25 is bending his back as if this is his last Test n India..!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) October 19, 2019
Very happy for Test debutant Shabaz Nadeem. Consistent performances in domestic cricket, India A & IPL have earned him a deserving Test cap. Well done!!!
At one stage I felt he might join Padmakar Shivalkar & Rajinder Goel of being unlucky one's to not represent India.#INDvSA— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 19, 2019
Extremely happy for Shahbaz Nadeem, one of the most prolific wicket takers in domestic cricket #INDvSA
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) October 19, 2019
Mighty pleased with the way @ImRo45 has taken to opening the innings. Good to see him back his 2 100's in the first 2 games with another one on a slightly tougher wicket. What a year for him. 5 WC 100's & adding to that the revival of his test career with 3 100's already #INDvSA
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) October 19, 2019
Rohit Sharma's day out. A century against Rabada in sparkling form on a day where Kohli and Pujara couldn't survive. #IndvsSA
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) October 19, 2019
For the 1 st time it looked that SouthAfrica were in the series and that Rohit-Rahane 185 run onslaught has snatched the day from South Africa.#INDvsSA
— Karan Choksi (@KaranChoksi6) October 19, 2019
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