Indian captain Rohit Sharma will face a lot of pressure when Team India takes on New Zealand in the second Test match, scheduled at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune from October 24 to October 28. Rohit’s recent form in Test cricket has been patchy, with only one half-century in his last six innings. This came during the second innings in Bengaluru against New Zealand, where he scored a smooth 52.
Rohit’s Test career has seen its share of highs and lows. However, his performance has significantly improved since he began opening the innings. In 35 matches as a Test opener, the 37-year-old has scored 2,648 runs at an impressive average of 46.45, including nine centuries and eight fifties. As India gears up to face New Zealand in Pune, Rohit will look to draw strength from his success as an opener.
Before becoming a regular Test opener, Rohit had some standout moments early in his career. He scored two centuries in his first two Test innings but struggled with consistency after that. Despite these challenges, he delivered some crucial knocks in the middle order. Let’s take a look at three of Rohit’s most underrated Test performances before he became an opener.
1. 102* vs Sri Lanka, Nagpur (November 2017)
In the second Test of the series against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma batted at No. 6 and scored a remarkable unbeaten 102 off 160 balls. This innings came in Nagpur in November 2017. Sri Lanka had set a modest first innings total of 205, and India replied with a massive 610-6 declared.
During this match, Virat Kohli scored a double hundred, and Rohit, in partnership with Kohli, built a crucial 173-run stand for the fifth wicket. Rohit’s innings featured eight boundaries and one six. His knock was vital in pushing the Indian innings forward, helping India declare and eventually win the match by an innings and 239 runs. He reached his century by hitting a back-of-a-length ball between point and cover, marking one of his most composed knocks in Test cricket.
2. 72 vs New Zealand, Auckland (February 2014)
Rohit Sharma’s ability to bat in tough overseas conditions has often been questioned. However, during India’s tour of New Zealand in 2014, he delivered a solid performance in the first Test in Auckland. Batting at No. 5, Rohit scored a crucial 72 off 120 balls in India’s first innings, even though New Zealand won the match by a narrow 40-run margin.
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After New Zealand posted a big total of 503, India struggled and were bowled out for 202, with Rohit being the top scorer. His knock included eight fours and a six, and he showed remarkable patience at the start, reaching only one run off his first 24 deliveries. Rohit found his rhythm later in the innings, hitting three boundaries in a single over from Neil Wagner. Although India lost, his innings displayed his resilience in difficult conditions.
3. 63* vs Australia, Melbourne (December 2018)
One of Rohit’s standout performances came during India’s historic 2018-19 tour of Australia. In the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rohit scored an unbeaten 63 off 114 balls. His innings was a key contribution to India’s massive first innings score of 443-7 declared.
Rohit Sharma batted alongside Rishabh Pant, adding 76 runs for the sixth wicket. His knock included five boundaries and came against a formidable Australian bowling attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon. This innings played a crucial role in India’s victory, as Australia was bowled out for 151 and 261 in their two innings, leading to India’s win by 137 runs.
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