Many records were broken when India’s latest opening pair, Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal came to bat in Visakhapatnam in 1st India vs South Africa Test. India elected to bat after winning the toss and both the batsmen justified the decision by registering their respective tons. The mountain of runs kept on increasing and the records kept falling apart. One of the most eminent record set by their 317-run partnership is that they brought up the third-highest opening stand for India in Tests. The duo became the third Indian opening pair to cross the three hundred run mark after Vinoo Mankad-Pankaj Roy (413) and Virender Sehwag-Rahul Dravid (410). India Vs South Africa, Cricket Score 1st Test Match. 

Vinoo Mankad-Pankaj Roy (413)

Mankad and Roy piled up their partnership in the 5th Test of New Zealand’s 1955-56 Tour of India. The Chennai crowd was treated to the great batting display of the two Indian stalwarts. The right-handed Roy was dismissed after scoring 173 runs but Mankad notched up a fantastic double ton. He finally ended his innings on 231 runs but the damage was done and India piled up 537 runs in the first innings. The total proved to be too much for the visitors and they lost the match by an innings and 109 runs.

Virender Sehwag-Rahul Dravid (410)

Talking about the destruction done by Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, the occasion was the first Test of India’s 2006 tour of Pakistan and the venue was Lahore. The hosts won the toss and mustered 679 runs in the first innings. The total seemed to be massive but India’s openers had some other plans. Sehwag went after the bowlers from the get-go and Dravid played the second fiddle. Sehwag brought up an astonishing double ton before getting dismissed for 254 when Dravid remained unbeaten on 128. Unfortunately, the encounter was affected by continuous rain and it ended in a draw.

Focusing on first India vs South Africa 2019 Test, the hosts are all set to register a massive first innings score. The Visakhapatnam pitch seems to be batting friendly and the Proteas batsmen will also want to exploit the conditions. However, their first aim will be reducing the damage by dismissing India. On the other hand, India’s middle-order will aim to make the ideal use of the start and begin their home season in grand style.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2019 01:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).