IND vs SA, 3rd Test, Day 2: Rohit Nears Maiden Double Ton As India Post 357/4 At Lunch

India batters Rohit Sharma (199*) and Ajinkya Rahane's masterclass innings powered India to 357/4 at Lunch on day 2 of the third Test at Ranchi. While HITMAN Sharma is just one run away from his maiden double ton, deputy skipper Rahane fell after a brilliant innings of 115 off 192 balls. Rohit Sharma became the fifth India batsman to score 500-plus runs in a three-match Test series. Former India hard-hitting opener Virender Sehwag was the last Indian opener to score over 500 runs in a series, which he attained vs arch-rivals Pakistan in 2005.

It has been an absolutely brilliant morning for #TeamIndia as Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane dominated the proceedings in the 1st session.

Rohit Sharma one short of scoring a double ton. #TeamIndia 357/4 (Ajinkya 115, Rohit 199*) Updates - https://t.co/aHgpd1BT6z #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/fl6yNm7oaL — BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2019

India were in a dominant position on Day 1 before bad light and rain forced early stumps. The batting duo of Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane took guard for team India at 224/3 on day two of the final Test. Both Sharma and Rahane batted effortlessly and hit some good boundaries to bring the double-hundred partnership early morning. While Rohit Sharma toyed with the Proteas bowlers by hitting some phenomenal square-cuts, vice captain Ajikya Rahane ended three-year home drought to notch up his fourth Test hundred on home soil. Rahane's Test ton was the 7th individual ton by a batsman in a series for India - most for India in a series against South Africa.

Well played @ajinkyarahane88 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/42iiOyZtZ9

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2019

Soon after Rahane's hundred, Rohit attained a century and a half, coursey a flurry of boundaries. Finally, George Linde got the much-needed breakthrough as he dismissed Rahane to get his first Test wicket and end the phenomenal 250-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Skipper Faf tried his best with the new ball to get a wicket before lunch but failed to do so.