Rohit Sharma Rewrites Record Books on the First Day of Ranchi Test

Here’s a look at the important numbers and statistics from the first day of play of the third Test.

A brilliant century from Rohit Sharma, who was well supported by vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, helped India get past early jitters and take a commanding position on Day 1 of the third and final Test against South Africa at the JSCA Stadium on Saturday.

With bad light forcing an early end to the day’s play, India’s score read 224/3 at stumps with Rohit and Rahane batting on 117 and 83 respectively.

Earlier in the day, the hosts didn't have a great start as they lost three wickets with only 39 runs on the board.

However, Rohit and Rahane took the mantle in their hands from thereafter. Not only did they take the hosts out of hot waters, they also made sure the visitors remained on the backfoot for the rest of the day.

Here’s a look at the important numbers and statistics from the first day of play in Ranchi:

• For the first time, Rohit Sharma has amassed 400-plus runs in a Test series – his tally being 434 at an average of 144.66 in five innings.
• Rohit has recorded 17 sixes in the present rubber, setting a record for most sixes by any batsman in a Test series, eclipsing West Indian Shimron Hetmyer's tally of 15 in the two-Test series against Bangladesh in 2018-19.
• Rohit's tally of 17 sixes in three Tests is the most in this calendar year, surpassing England's Ben Stokes' tally of 15 sixes in eight matches.
• Rohit is the second Indian opener to hit three centuries in a Test series, joining Sunil Gavaskar (4 each vs West Indies in 1970-71 and 1978-79 and 3 vs Australia in 1977-78).
• Rohit is the sixth opener to register three hundreds in a Test series against South Africa, joining England's Herbert Sutcliffe (4) and Andrew Strauss, Australia's Jack Fingleton, Matthew Hayden & David Warner.
• Rohit is the first Indian batsman to hit three centuries as well as amass 400-plus runs in a Test series against South Africa.  The previous highest runs' tally by an Indian player against them was 388 (ave 77.60) by Mohammad Azharuddin in three Tests in 1996-97.

• Ajinkya Rahane's 21st fifty in Tests is his fourth vs South Africa. His superb unbeaten knock of 83 is Rahane's his highest in the present series.
• The unbroken partnership of 185 between Rohit and Rahane is the highest for India for the fourth wicket vs South Africa in Tests, eclipsing the 178 between Kohli and Rahane at Pune in October 2019.
• Five centuries - three by Rohit and two by Mayank - are the most by Indian openers in a Test series.
• Cheteshwar Pujara's second duck in Tests at home is his seventh overall. He had first registered a duck in India against Australia at Dharamsala in March 2017.

• South Africa are playing their 50th Test match in Asia - their 19th in India.
• Kagiso Rabada is the first South African bowler to take 25 wickets in seven Tests this year - his victim being Cheteshwar Pujara.
• Anrich Nortje is the fourth bowler after Kagiso Rabada, Alzarri Joseph and Senuran Muthusamy to dismiss Virat Kohli as his first wicket in Tests.