IND vs SA: "Kagiso Rabada Has Rohit Sharma's Number..." - Aakash Chopra On India Captain's Failure

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra recently analyzed India’s batting struggles during the first Test against South Africa. Aakash Chopra highlighted South African pacer Kagiso Rabada’s consistent success against Rohit Sharma as a significant setback for India.

India suffered a humiliating innings and 32-run defeat on December 28. Virat Kohli was the lone contributor with 76 runs in the second innings as the team collapsed for 131 runs. The Temba Bavuma-led team secured an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Kagiso Rabada dismissed Rohit Sharma for a duck in India’s second innings at Centurion, marking the seventh time the Proteas pacer got the better of the Indian skipper in Tests. Earlier, Rabada had removed Rohit for just five runs in India’s first innings of the match.

Kagiso Rabada Has Dismissed Rohit Sharma So Many Times – Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra noted that Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed by an almost unplayable delivery and emphasized the importance of Shubman Gill performing well outside India for substantial growth.

“Kagiso Rabada has Rohit Sharma’s number in his back pocket, it seems like that. He has dismissed him so many times and got him out here as well. It was with a bouncer in the previous innings and it was a very good ball in this innings. It pitched and went away and hit the top of off and Rohit Sharma was out at the start,” Chopra said.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal got out at the other end. It was like an almost unplayable delivery. Then Shubman Gill came and hit a few fours for sure, but then he also got out. For the prince to become the king, he has to walk the tightrope. He has to perform well outside India,” he added.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill scored 22 runs and 28 runs, respectively, in the series opener. Jaiswal and Gill are playing their first Test series on South African soil. Gill moved down to No. 3 in the batting order in the last series to accommodate Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Shreyas Iyer Will Have Difficulties In SENA Counties – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra said that Shreyas Iyer needs to enhance his skills to excel on seamer-friendly tracks in Test cricket, emphasizing that scoring runs in countries like South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia won’t be as straightforward for him.

“Then Shreyas Iyer, the way he plays, it seems like he is not yet fully ready to perform in SENA countries. He plays very well in ODIs. I feel he will play ODI cricket well anywhere, he scored runs in Hamilton as well,” Chopra further stated.

In the first innings, Shreyas Iyer scored 31 runs off 50 balls, including three boundaries. Although his catch was dropped earlier in the innings, he failed to capitalize and score big. He managed to score just six runs before being dismissed by Marco Jansen in the second innings.

Also read: IND vs SA: “Indian Bowlers Don’t Get As Much Help From The Pitch That The Opposing Team Takes” – Aakash Chopra