XtraTime Web Desk: Indian cricket team’s star opener Rohit Sharma is in the record books as he became the only fourth batsmen to score a double hundred in Test & ODI cricket as he hit a classy double century to reach this milestone during the third Test in Ranchi between India and South Africa.
Beside that he joins the legendary list of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag & Chris Gayle as well. So far Rohit has three double hundreds in ODI and beside that he also holds the record of highest individual score of 264 in 50-over format.
Rohit got to his double hundred in 249 balls, having hit 28 boundaries and 4 sixes. There were a few nervous moments for the India opener as he was a bit edgy in Kagiso Rabada’s final over before lunch. In fact, Rohit went into lunch 1 run short of his maiden double hundred in Tests.
Just like Virender Sehwag who is celebrating his birthday on Sunday, Rohit got to his double hundred by hooking Lungi Ngidi for a six after lunch.
Rohit has thus become the 1st batsman to score a 200-plus score in Tests after scoring double hundreds in ODI cricket. He is also only the 5th Indian opener after Vinoo Mankad, Budhi Kunderan, Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag to score 500 runs in a Test series.
Rohit got to his maiden Test double hundred on Sunday in the 3rd and final Test against South Africa. The India opener resumed Day 2’s action on 117 and began dominating the South Africa bowlers at will.
Rohit missed out on his maiden double hundred in his 1st Test as opener in Visakhapatnam. Rohit was dismissed for 176 in the 1st innings of the Vizag Test but the India opener made up for it by getting a game-changing 2nd innings hundred there.
Notably, Rohit has become the 3rd Indian batsman after Mayank Agarwal and Virat Kohli to score a double hundred in the ongoing series against South Africa who have been ordinary with the ball.
Everyone thought that Rohit might be failed to score big as an opener in Test matches as it’s a different game all together. But proving everyone wrong Rohit has hit three tons so far and he is showing that not only in ODIs but also in Test matches he can be a match winner.