IND vs SA: Rohit Sharma's Pull Shot Has Been His Nemesis In Test Cricket - Sanjay Manjrekar

Indian captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 5 runs during the Boxing Day Test between India and South Africa. Sharma had to walk back to the pavilion after he was caught by Nandre Burger and dismissed by Kagiso Rabada. Rohit hit a ton against West Indies when the Indian team played a Test series in the Caribbean Islands in July earlier this year.

While Rohit Sharma was dismissed while playing his favorite pull shot. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has thrown light on Rohit’s nemesis as he was dismissed for the 13th time in Test cricket by Kagiso Rabada.

After India were reduced to 91/3 at Lunch on the first day of the two-match Test series between India and South Africa, Sanjay Manjrekar stated that Rohit Sharma‘s go-to shot in white ball cricket has become a nemesis for him in the red ball format. Manjrekar further quoted that this was the seventh time that Rohit got out while playing a pull shot.

Sanjay Manjrekar reveals Rohit Sharma’s major problem in red ball cricket

Sanjay Manjrekar said, “It’s interesting that his go to shot, the one shot that he plays in white-ball cricket that puts the opposition on the back foot, has been Rohit Sharma’s nemesis in Test cricket. In the last two years, he’s been out seven times playing the pull shot. But the bowler deserves this as it was a great delivery.”

After the departure of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill didn’t take much time to depart and walked back for 2 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the third batsman to fall in front of the Proteas pacers and he went back for 17 runs.

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer tried to help the Indian team come back in the first Test match and added 68 runs for the fourth wicket. Virat played an innings of 38 runs which included five fours whereas Iyer contributed with 31 runs.

After the departure of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, the Indian team lost another wicket in the form of Ravichandran Ashwin whereas it was KL Rahul and Shardul Thakur, who were the other Indian pair to show some fight.

Both the batsmen added 43 runs for the seventh wicket after Thakur was dismissed for a fighting knock of 23 runs. While KL Rahul is the only batsman present at the crease and has completed his half-century, the Indian team will want to reach a fighting score.

The SuperSport Park pitch offers a lot of assistance to the pacers as it gives them extra pace and bounce. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada received a lot of help from the pitch till now and he has already completed his fifer. The Indian team also has one of the best bowling lineups in the world consisting of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

The Indian pacers can once again prove essential in scripting a special feat for the Indian team overseas and also help them win their first Test series on South African soil.