Mayank Agarwal on Thursday hit his first-ever double hundred as he played a remarkable innings of 215 in the first Test match against South Africa. His knock of 215 included 23 boundaries and six sixes. When he got out, India were cruising at 436/5. India later declared their innings at 502/7. At the end of the second day’s play, South Africa were 39/3.
Earlier Rohit Sharma fell one short of his career-best 177 as he was stumped off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj for 176. India’s score was 316 when Sharma returned to the dressing room. Sharma also hit an identical number of 23 fours and six sixes.
With his fourth century in Test matches and first as an opening batsman, Sharma has equalled the batting average of Sir Don Bradman.
Speaking about his role as the new Test opener, Sharma said, “I was prepared for the past two years about the fact that at some stage I might have to open. So mentally, I was ready for it. Opening the batting in red-ball cricket is a different ball game compared to limited-overs.”
Sharma said that he had absolutely no confusion as to how he wanted to approach the game as an opening batsman.
Keshav Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa as he scalped three wickets. Vernon Philander, Senuran Muthusamy and Dean Elgar took one wicket each. Muthuswamy could not believe his luck when he got Indian captain Virat Kohli out by taking a catch in the followthrough.
