Rohit Sharma slams maiden Test hundred as captain, 9th overall

Rohit Sharma, with his nonchalance at his best, urged the players on both sides not to be bothered by the on-field chatter and focus on the job at hand. And Rohit did just that when he hit an unbeaten century on Day 2 of the 1st Test in Nagpur after Australia had been bowled out for just 177 on the opening day. Rohit Sharma looked in complete control as he was nimble against both spin and pace and showed the pitch critics that it is not entirely impossible to put your head down and score in Nagpur. Rohit got to his hundred in 171 balls to lead India's reply with the bat on Day 2 of the much-anticipated Test series opener. Rohit hit 2 sixes and 14 boundaries as he took his 3-figure score.

It was Rohit Sharma's first Test hundred as captain as the Mumbai batsman will be delighted with his effort after missing a series of matches as full-time skipper last year. It was also his first three-figure score against Australia in Test cricket, surpassing the previous best of 63 not out in Melbourne Test 2018. Rohit Sharma also emulated Virat Kohli when he hit a hundred in his first Test as captain against Australia. Virat Kohli scored two hundreds in his first ever Test match as captain, which came in Adelaide in 2014. Kohli deputized as captain for MS Dhoni, who was stationary for the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series played Down Under. in 2014-15. Rohit also became the 10th Indian captain to record a Test set against Australia.

Rohit Sharma looked comfortable on Wednesday even as his teammates troubled the Australian spinners. R Ashwin was the first man to be dismissed on Day 2 when he became Todd Murphy's second victim in Test cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara threw away his wicket when he played a dot shot that went straight to the short fielder at fine leg. Former captain Virat Kohli got off to a good start, being proactive as he went into lunch on an unbeaten 12 along with Rohit who was unbeaten on 85. Virat Kohli was caught leg-first in the first delivery after the lunch break against Todd Murphy.

Not long after, debutant Suryakumar Yadav was bowled by Nathan Lyon, who picked up his first Test match wicket in the 2nd over on Friday. Suryakumar was out for 8 after he tried to play an expansive drive through the covers, but the delivery from Lyon went through his bat and pad. Rohit curbed his natural instincts and took it upon himself to stop the Australian attack as he lost his partners at regular intervals. It was in stark contrast to the way Rohit went about his business on Day 1 when he faced Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon and raced to 56 not out at Stumps.