India vs South Africa 2019: 3 reasons why Rohit Sharma's debut as an opener was so successful

Rohit Sharma, one of India’s stalwart batsmen, added two more centuries to his ever-growing tally this week. And no, they were not scored in ODI matches (his favourite format).

Both tons, which were registered in the first Test against South Africa at Vizag, were classic examples of Sharma’s patented modus operandi. Promoted to the opener's slot for the first time in his Test career, Sharma scored slowly at first, getting used to the pitch. And then once he was set, he exploded and smashed several sixes.

Here are three reasons why Sharma's debut as an opener was so successful.

#3 He is more confident and mature now

Rohit Sharma

Even though Sharma is one of the most feared batsmen in ODI cricket, his Test career has been stop-start. Before the match against South Africa, his previous Test had been in December 2018.

The 32-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant 2019 in ODIs. He was the top run-scorer in the World Cup (648 runs at an average of 81, with five centuries) and decimated the bowling attacks with remarkable ease. Those feats gave him the confidence boost he needed to amass the Test centuries at Vizag this week.

Another one of Sharma’s standout traits is his maturity. Sharma was lambasted in the past for giving his wicket away, but he worked hard on the problem and learnt to value his wicket.

In the first innings Sharma could have suffered a lapse of concentration upon reaching the three-figure mark. Instead, the opposite happened and he notched up a tall score.

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#2 Getting the better of Rabada

Kagiso Rabada celebrating his dismissal of Sharma in an ODI

Kagiso Rabada had a disappointing World Cup, where he picked up 11 wickets at an average of 36.09. After the minor setback, the South African pace sensation was expected to bounce back in the Test series against India.

But his comeback was thwarted by Sharma. The Indian right-hander enjoyed plenty of success against Rabada and played the latter’s deliveries with aplomb. He showed good technique and looked rock-solid at the crease.

That said, it was not all smooth sailing for the Mumbai Indians captain. He had to survive a few testing spells from Rabada, especially on the first day when India could only muster 22 runs from their first 10 overs. On those occasions Rabada ran in with vigour and bowled lightning-quick deliveries. But Sharma, cool as a cucumber, successfully kept them away from the stumps.

Once he was set, Sharma played a few sumptuous front-foot drives. Rabada couldn't dismiss Sharma in the Test and that was one of the reasons why the move to promote the latter worked so well.

#1 Positive batting approach against the spinners

Sharma using the sweep shot successfully

Rohit Sharma played the spinners like a master. While he scored slowly against Rabada, he was in a belligerent mood when facing Dane Piedt and Co.

One look at the spinners’ economy rates for the match tells the whole story. Keshav Maharaj (5 wickets and an economy rate of 4.12) was very expensive by his standards. Senuran Muthusamy (1 wicket, 4.61 ) did not perform much better.

But Piedt (5.80) was targeted the most. Sharma hit a grand total of 13 sixes, several of which came against Piedt's bowling.

The carnage started early in the first innings of the match. The Indian opener had signaled his intent in the 20th over, when he advanced down the pitch and hoisted the ball over long-on’s head (off Maharaj).

Over the next few hours, Sharma waltzed down the pitch several times. He also pulled the sweep shot out of his hat and used it to devastating effect.

By the time he was out for 176 runs, Sharma had scored the lion’s share of his runs against spinners.

The second innings followed more or less the same script. Sharma scored 127 runs at a rapid rate, which enabled India to declare on 230-4 (setting the visitors a target of 395).