Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal Become Second Indian Opening Pair To Make Home Debut
Oct 2, 2019 at 3:42 PM
India’s new opening dual of Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal became the second Indian opening pair to make home debut when they walked out to bat in the first Test match against South Africa at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. The right-handers joined Sunil Gavaskar and Ramnath Parkar who had become the first Indian opening pair to make the home debut.
Read More: India vs South Africa 2019: 1st Test Match, Visakhapatnam – Lunch Report
Ramnath Parkar had made his International debut against in 1972 against England in New Delhi. On the other hand, it was the first match for Sunil Gavaskar in the Indian conditions.
India has had a fine start.
On the other hand, Mayank Agarwal is playing his maiden match in the Indian conditions. Furthermore, Rohit Sharma is opening for the first time in his Test career. Thus, both are making playing their first innings as openers in the home conditions.
The Indian team had a fine start to the first Test match as openers Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal were able to stay unbeaten. The South African opening pacers Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada were able to get the lateral seam movement.
Both the Indian openers played with patience and waited for the loose ball to get their runs. Mayank and Rohit Sharma gave the first hour to the bowlers and then took the attack on the opposition. Rohit Sharma also brought up his fifty with a risky sweep shot whereas Mayank Agarwal was rock solid at the other end.
Read More: Sydney Thunder Signs Alex Hales For Big Bash League 2019-20
Here are the playing XI of both sides:
India – Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami.
South Africa – Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn, Faf du Plessis (captain), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Vernon Philander, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Piedt.