According to Aakash Chopra, India’s chances of a comeback in the opening Test match against South Africa have diminished as Sharma continued his dreadful performance against Rabada.
On Thursday, 28 December, at Centurion, the hosts comfortably defeated the visitors by 32 runs in the second innings after Rabada dismissed Rohit for a duck.
This was the Proteas pacer’s eighth wicket against the Indian captain in Test cricket.
In a video posted on his YouTube account, Chopra reflected on India’s second innings collapse and said that Rabada’s continued dominance over Rohit destroyed India’s aspirations of building a strong lead. He explained in 3:25:
“It seems Kagiso has Rohit’s number in his back pocket. He has dismissed him many times and has dismissed him here as well.
There was this ball with a bouncer in the last innings and it was a very good ball.” turn. This pitch came and went and hit the top of the off and Rohit Sharma was out early.”
The former India opener said that while Shubman Gill did not convert his start into a crucial effort, he also dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with the ball. He declared:
“Yashasvi Jaiswal got out at the other end. It was almost like an impossible delivery. Then Shubman Gill came in and definitely hit a few fours, but then he too got out.
For Rajkumar to be the king, he has to walk hard. Rassi…he has to do well outside India.”
Chopra claimed that Gill’s figures vary significantly within and outside Asia. He said the so-called prince will not be called king until he takes over SENA countries while admitting that his career is still in its early stages.
Read Also: In the second innings of the Centurion Test, Virat Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record