Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been often criticised of late by fans and critics alike for his decision to retain Rohit Sharma instead of Test specialist Ajinkya Rahane, whose stats in overseas matches speaks volume about his calibre, in the playing eleven. So when the ‘Hit Man’ got out cheaply in the first innings of the second Test, things would not have been different as apart from Sharma, the skipper, too, was trolled on Twitter, where the fans questioned the exclusion of the vice-captain from the team.
Just after Sharma’s departure, Twitteratis started mocking him for his performance despite having being given many chances.
Rohit sharma will play 3rd test match in only 2 condition.
1. If rohit tells virat that this is my last test match
2. If rohit play a match winning knock in 2nd innings #SAvIND #INDvSA #SAvsIND rt if you agree— Mycricweb (@mycricweb) January 14, 2018
To all Rohit Sharma fans.
Face the fact that he is an overrated flat track bully.
And to all Kohli critics.
Determination wins over talent.
Every day!
Every Time!
Every Which way!— Ravishankar V (@RaviVeeraghanta) January 14, 2018
Even the great human and the coach @anilkumble1074 has to succumb to @imVkohli so don’t think of Ajinkya Rahane in playing 11 if Kohli don’t think he deserves. Ravi Shastri is just a lame duck to follow with the wind.
— Anand T (@anandatatat) January 14, 2018
Exactly @ImRo45 be honest to yourself and retire from test cricket and overseas limited overs cricket as well. Quota slots cannot make a team.
— S. Dutta (@JeetChampion) January 14, 2018
@IamKohli Rohit sharma is a oneday player and flopped several times in test. Many times dropped and recalled in test, Playing for 10 yrs still not permanent test player.
How many times you guys will try Rohit in test !!!— Abhishek Singh (@Singhabhi_07) January 14, 2018
@ImRo45 Lowest test averages in India vs South Africa series
5.29 Venkatesh Prasad
5.44 Ishant Sharma
6.22 Paul Harris
7.78 Mkhaya Ntini
8.50 Javagal Srinath
9.27 Rohit SharmaIf u are in company of recognised tailenders, then there is something very wrong with ur batting#VPS
— Oscar D’rose (@oscar_dazzler) January 14, 2018
Plz give me 4 innings, i can score more than Rohit Sharma with better strike rates…#deal
— Janak Desai (@jnd583) January 14, 2018
*At passport office*
Rohit Sharma: Sir mujhe apna passport Renew karana hae
Officer: Bhai Rehne de tu karega kya bahar jaake #IndvsSA
— Apurva (@Hud_Hud_Dabbang) January 14, 2018
Horrific tour for “Rohit Sharma”. Testing him in SA is literally a bad thing for him as well as for the team. Got to feel for Rahane missing out such an important matches like this.
— Sal (@sal1991_imdb) January 14, 2018
I’ve been one of the biggest Rohit Sharma supporter but he’s just not good enough for test cricket outside India. He keeps missing the changes given to him. Rahane deserves to play ahead of him. #SAvIND
— Deepak K (@Lord_Dothraki) January 14, 2018
The cricket experts as well cricket lovers of India wanted Ajinkya Rahane back in the playing eleven.
Rohit Sharma averages 24.55 on foreign soil, while Rahane has a terrific average of 53.44 while batting in overseas matches.
Earlier, captain Kohli along with the team management and head coach Ravi Shastri was back-lashed for dropping star pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and including Ishant Sharma in the second Test. After getting thrashed by 72 runs in the first Test, Virat had made three changes in playing eleven.
Wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel replaced Wriddhiman Saha, opener KL Rahul came in for Shikhar Dhawan, while pacer Ishant edged out Bhuvneshwar for a place in the playing eleven.
In the opening Test match of three-match series in Newlands Cape Town, Sharma scored a total of 21 runs in both the innings and India end up losing the match by 72 runs. In the first inning of second Test, Sharma once again disappointed the cricket fans, as he was sent back to pavilion at the score of 10 runs by South African pacer Kagiso Rabada.