India dominating at Nagpur: How the second day of Nagpur Test played out

Rohit Sharma led the batting charge as India overcame a stiff challenge from Australia bowlers to manage a healthy lead on the second day of the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rohit hit a brilliant 120 on an enthralling day of Test cricket, as the game further tilted in India’s favour. The day ended with India at 321/7.  On a day when debutant Todd Murphy got the number of veteran India batters, Rohit held his own against the Australia bowlers. The 35-year-old hit 15 fours and two sixes in his innings. This was his first hundred against Australia in Tests. 

Rohit’s 120 was his eighth Test hundred at home, equalling the likes of VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly.India’s skipper now averages 75.2 in home games. Among players who have batted in 20 or more innings at home, Rohit is the second best behind cricketing legend Sir Don Bradman. 

Picked over the more experienced Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson, the young off-spinner lit up Australia’s day with his stupendous bowling. The 22-year-old managed to outdo Australia’s premier spinner Nathan Lyon and outfoxed the likes of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Playing only his eighth first-class encounter, Murphy’s first-ever five-wicket haul in Tests was also his first ever at the first-class level. His figures of 5-82 were the second-best for an Australia debutant in India. They are bettered by Jason Krejza 8-215 at the same venue in 2008.