On October 2, 2015, star Team Indiabatter Rohit Sharma notched up his maiden T20I hundred against South Africa in Dharamsala. India captain MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. In the fourth
over of the match, the hosts lost Shikhar Dhawan, who got run out after scoring only three off four. Virat Kohli joined Rohit in the middle and both played some fine shots from their bats. In the 10th over, Rohit brought his fifty in 39 balls. After completing his half-century, Rohit became more ferocious and scored his maiden T20I ton in just 62 deliveries.
He racked up his next 50 runs in just 23 balls. With his hundred against the Protea side, Rohit Sharma became the second player to rack up a ton for Team India in T20Is. Before him, Suresh Raina was the only India player to hit a T20I hundred and the southpaw also achieved the unique record against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2010 game, played in St Lucia. Rohit and Virat built a 138-run partnership off just 74 balls. Kohli got dismissed after scoring 43 off 27 while Rohit concluded his innings after amassing 106 runs off 66 deliveries. Riding on the magnificent batting performance from the right-handed opener, India erected a total of 199/5 in 20 overs.
Rohit Sharma’s ton went in vain as India lost the match
Chasing the massive total, India bowlers struggled to trouble the Protea side’s batting attack. Veterans Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers stitched a 77-run opening stand off just 46 balls and gave a superb start. India strove to make a comeback, picking up the top-order batters Amla, skipper Faf du Plessis, and de Villiers but JP Duminy and Farhan Bahardein stood at the crease and took India’s bowling attack to the cleaners.
Both batters stitched an unbeaten 105-run stand and took their team home comfortably with seven wickets in hand and two balls remaining in the match. Duminy’s batting heroics (68* off 34) also got him the Player of the Match (POTM) award.
