India captain Virat Kohli again drew criticism from his fans for preferring Rohit Sharma over Ajinkya Rahane for the second Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Rohit was given the chance ahead of Rahane in the final eleven of the Newlands Test and the right-hander scored a combined 21 runs in two innings. India went on to lose the opening Test of the three-match series by 72 runs and Kohli's call to exclude Rahane, who is known for his quiet approach and better overseas record, instead of Rohit once again for the second Test left the fans perplexed.
Playing his second Test of the tour, Rohit once again failed with the bat and scored a paltry 10 before being dismissed by South African pacer Kagiso Rabada.
Just after his dismissal, fans started trolling him for his poor run with the bat despite many chances.
Rohit sharma will play 3rd test match in only 2 condition.
— Mycricweb (@mycricweb) January 14, 2018
1. If rohit tells virat that this is my last test match
2. If rohit play a match winning knock in 2nd innings #SAvIND #INDvSA #SAvsIND rt if you agree
To all Rohit Sharma fans.
— Ravishankar V (@RaviVeeraghanta) January 14, 2018
Face the fact that he is an overrated flat track bully.
And to all Kohli critics.
Determination wins over talent.
Every day!
Every Time!
Every Which way!
@IamKohli Rohit sharma is a oneday player and flopped several times in test. Many times dropped and recalled in test, Playing for 10 yrs still not permanent test player.
— Abhishek Singh (@Singhabhi_07) January 14, 2018
How many times you guys will try Rohit in test !!!
@ImRo45 Lowest test averages in India vs South Africa series
— Oscar D'rose (@oscar_dazzler) January 14, 2018
5.29 Venkatesh Prasad
5.44 Ishant Sharma
6.22 Paul Harris
7.78 Mkhaya Ntini
8.50 Javagal Srinath
9.27 Rohit Sharma
If u are in company of recognised tailenders, then there is something very wrong with ur batting#VPS
Plz give me 4 innings, i can score more than Rohit Sharma with better strike rates...#deal
— Janak Desai (@jnd583) January 14, 2018
*At passport office*
— Apurva (@Hud_Hud_Dabbang) January 14, 2018
Rohit Sharma: Sir mujhe apna passport Renew karana hae
Officer: Bhai Rehne de tu karega kya bahar jaake #IndvsSA
Rahane in place of Rohit sharma for next test is must. NECESSARY not CHOICE anymore. #IndvsSA
— mourya kashyap (@KashyapMourya) January 14, 2018
I've been one of the biggest Rohit Sharma supporter but he's just not good enough for test cricket outside India. He keeps missing the changes given to him. Rahane deserves to play ahead of him. #SAvIND
— Deepak K (@Lord_Dothraki) January 14, 2018
Horrific tour for "Rohit Sharma". Testing him in SA is literally a bad thing for him as well as for the team. Got to feel for Rahane missing out such an important matches like this.
— Sal (@sal1991_imdb) January 14, 2018
Rohit was preferred over Rahane who has an impressive overseas record. Rahane, known for his calm and composed demenour, has scored centuries in Melbourne, Colombo, Wellington, Kingston and Lord’s.
Rahane has a terrific average of 53.44 batting overseas. On the other hand, Rohit averages 24.55 outside India.
Not just Rahane, Kohli also dropped Bhuvneshwar Kumar from the playing XI for the second Test.
Bhuvneshwar claimed six wickets in the Newlands Test and Kohli, during the toss in Centurion, said they are looking for extra pace and bounce which Ishant Sharma could deliver.
India made three changes with wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, opener KL Rahul and pacer Ishant coming in for Wriddhiman Saha, Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar.
- Kohli drew criticism from his fans for preferring Rohit over Rahane
- Rohit was given the chance ahead of Rahane in the 1st and 2nd Test
- Rohit once again failed with the bat in the 2nd Test
