IND vs SA: Rohit Sharma Matches MS Dhoni's Unique Record As Test Captain Against South Africa

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has leveled up with MS Dhoni to a unique record in Test matches against South Africa in South Africa. India won the second Test in Cape Town by seven wickets to level the series 1-1. In the process, Rohit became the second Indian Test captain after MS Dhoni to draw a Test series in South Africa.

India lost by 2-1 margins in 2018 and 2021. In 2018, India lost under Virat Kohli. In 2021, India won the first test in Centurion under Virat Kohli but lost the next two matches.

Speaking about 2010-11, South Africa won the first Test in Centurion with India leveling the series up in Durban winning the Test by 87 runs. Now Rohit has emulated MS Dhoni by drawing this recent series 1-1.

Rohit Sharma Levels Up With MS Dhoni

South Africa earned an innings victory in the first Test in Centurion. India had to prove a point and despite being bowled out on the first day of the Test match, India bounced back to level the series as they won the second Test.

South Africa were bowled out for 55 on the first day. India too were bowled out for 153 earning a crucial 98-run lead. The hosts in their second innings scored 176 on the back of Aiden Markram’s sixth Test ton (106) as the hosts set India a target of 79.

This time around, India were much more confident with their batting approach, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a brisk 28 off 23 balls to give the team a good start. Rhit Sharma was unbeaten on 17 off 22 balls. Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill scored 12 and 10 respectively. The winning runs were scored by Shreyas Iyer as India leveled the series.

After the win in Cape Town, Rohit Sharma slammed the ICC for rating the World Cup final pitch at Ahmedabad below average. In the same breadth, he said that the Indian team does not mind playing on tracks like the one in Cape Town until the other teams do not make any fuss about pitches in India.

The Cape Town Test match was Dean Elgar’s final Test of his career. This was the 86th Test of his career and he did not score too many runs in his final outing. However, Elgar along with Jasprit Bumrah won the Player of the Series award. Elgar finished the series with 201 runs at an average of 67.00. His knock of 185 in Centurion was the difference between the two sides.

“A lot of good, amazing memories. I received it in 2012 in the Perth debut, I have missed only one series with it and that was West Indies, captained the first series. It’s got a special place at home and it doesn’t leave, only leaves for duty, but that’s now done and dusted. So I’m gonna have to find a special place for it. It is the first one and I am glad I finished with it” said Elgar as he looked back on his glorious Test career.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Watch – Virat Kohli Shares Jolly Moments With Fellow Players Post India’s Win In Cape Town