WATCH: Rohit Sharma registers maiden half-century as Test opener; Virat Kohli celebrates

Rohit Sharma registers maiden half-century: The Indian opening batsman justified the team management’s decision to promote him.

During the first day of the first Test of the ongoing South Africa’s tour of India in Visakhapatnam, India batsman Rohit Sharma scored his maiden Test half-century as an opening batsman to provide India with a strong start in the first session.

Opening the batting with Mayank Agarwal, Sharma scored a boundary off South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada in the second over to ease his nerves. Other than getting beaten a few times with the new ball, Sharma looked comfortable for the most part of his innings.

WATCH: @ImRo45‘s first boundary as Test opener

📹📹https://t.co/M2WfqDD9dd #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/UibOcM4W3v

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 2, 2019

The Indian openers scored 22 runs in the first 10 overs to get their eyes in. As and when the new ball bowlers were replaced by spinners, both Sharma and Agarwal started to press the accelerator.

On the first delivery of the 20th over, Sharma stepped out to South African spinner Keshav Maharaj to hit his first six of the innings. In the 25th over, Sharma hit another aerial shot off Dane Piedt to stamp authority on the South African bowlers.

It was on the last delivery of the 29th over when Sharma mis-timed a sweep off debutant Senuran Muthusamy to complete his half-century with a boundary. Having scored 91/0 in 30 overs, both Sharma (52) and Agarwal (39) would be looking to convert their starts into formidable innings.

Rohit Sharma registers maiden half-century:

🙌🙌@ImRo45 #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/BsqCeWdTQm

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 2, 2019

How twitter reacted on Sharma:

Just the kinda session India would have wanted n most importantly Rohit in his new avatar. Hope he holds on to this composure and patience right thru #INDvSA

— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) October 2, 2019

Only #RohitSharma can dismiss himself. This guy has a penchant for big scores. He’s well on way to join @virendersehwag in the list of successful transition from middle order to top -order, white to red ball cricket. #INDvSA

— G. S. Vivek (@GSV1980) October 2, 2019

Gleanings from 1st session: Kohli wins imp toss. Pitch plumb so far. Rohit carries brilliant form in white ball cricket into Tests. Agarwal solid. Rabada & Philander impress but SA spinners easy meat. SA likely on leather hunt, and then face daunting Indian spin. Advantage India

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 2, 2019

Just about perfect session for India. Win toss bat first. Negotiate the brief period while the new ball is threatening. Go hard at the spinners. Build a solid platform. So often, the first session of a test has a bearing on the series.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 2, 2019

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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