Inzamam-ul-Haq, former Pakistan captain has termed Indian opener Rohit Sharma’s hundred on Day 3 of the Oval Test the best innings of the opener’s Test career. Inzamam-ul-Haq added that Rohit Sharma deserved the ton as he has batted with patience and has displayed excellent temperament right through the series.
Rohit Sharma notched up his eighth Test hundred and, more significantly, his first away from home on Saturday. He scored 127 off 256 balls as India ended Day 3 of The Oval Test at 270 for 3.
Inzamam-ul-Haq Hailed Rohit Sharma Who Deserved His Ton
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Inzamam-ul-Haq hailed Rohit Sharma for his stupendous knock.
“Rohit Sharma played a brilliant knock, he deserved this hundred. He has displayed amazing temperament throughout the series. The day belonged to Rohit Sharma. Everyone is aware that he is one of the best stroke players in the business. However, he saw off the new ball with patience and, once he got set, he started playing his shots.”
According to the former Pakistani batsman, Rohit Sharma adapted to the challenges brilliantly and proved that he is a team man.
Inzamam-ul-Haq added: “The six he hit to get to a hundred demonstrated the amount of confidence he has in his ability. The stroke also demonstrated that he could have hit out earlier if he wanted but he played as per the requirements of the team. Rohit Sharma adapted himself brilliantly to score his 8th Test hundred. According to me, this was the best innings of Rohit Sharma’s Test career.”
Rohit Sharma was dismissed in a disappointing fashion as he miscued an attempted pull straight up in the air after England took the new ball.
Bad light stopped play at The Oval with India ahead by 171 runs. India ended the day at 270/3, with Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara scoring 127 and 61, respectively. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja will resume India’s innings on Day 4. Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara were dismissed in the same over by Ollie Robinson soon after the pair brought up their 150-ruin stand.
While Rohit Sharma fell to a pull shot on 127, Cheteshwar Pujara was caught in the slips for 61. Rohit Sharma hit a massive six-over long-on off Moeen Ali to get his first-ever Test century outside India. It also happened to be his 8th career century in the longest format.
Inzamam-ul-Haq: KL Rahul’s 46 Cannot Be Ignored As He Along With Rohit Sharma Built A Solid Foundation For The 1st Wicket
Day 3 began with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul carrying on their good work from Friday after resuming from their overnight score of 43/0. They added 83 for the first wicket to set a solid foundation.
Inzamam said in this regard: “KL Rahul’s 46 also cannot be ignored. Rohit Sharma and Rahul featured in a wonderful opening stand. The partnership set the base for India as they nullified threat of the new ball, which has hurt India many times in the past. I have said earlier as well, when the openers came into bat on Day 2, they displayed the mindset to attack the England bowlers. They were keen on playing positive cricket and not going into their shell.”
India ended Day 3 with a lead of 171 with seven wickets in hand. While Virat Kohli was unbeaten on 22, Ravindra Jadeja was batting on 9. India concluded a brilliant Day 3 at 270-3 (lead of 171 runs) with Virat Kohli looking solid at 22 off 37 alongside Ravindra Jadeja and with three more capable batsmen yet to come.