Primary opener Rohit Sharma returned to the Indian squad after missing out on the first two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar trophy as he was serving his quarantine period in Sydney. He had arrived late in Australia because of a hamstring injury he sustained in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
It was a good day for India in the third Test as openers Rohit and Shubman Gill registered India's first 50-plus opening partnership in 14 innings.
However, it was not a good day for a Twitter who made a promise on Twitter that if Rohit survives 30 balls of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins, he would shave off his moustache.
"If Rohit is a test cricketer then I am the most handsome person," he wrote. "Let him play at least one over each from Anderson and Broad. Leave it. Let him play 30 balls from Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins. If he plays then I will cut half my moustache."
Interestingly, he was a man of his word as he did shave off his moustache.
Coming back to the match, Rohit and Shubman combined a total of 70 runs for the opening wicket to give the middle-order batsmen a solid platform on the second day of the third Test.
The visitors have struggled in recent times to find a solid opening pair, but the return of Rohit made it possible in the ongoing third Test as he combined beautifully with newcomer Shubman Gill.
The duo showed great composure against the fierce Australian bowling line-up and made sure they did not play any flashy shot outside the off stump. They followed the rulebook and ensured that the Australian bowlers erred in their line and capitalised on the bad balls.
However, the opening stand ended with Rohit's dismissal as the hitman was caught and bowled by a quick Josh Hazlewood. Interestingly, Rohit also became the first cricketer to record 100 sixes against Australia.
Shubman, on the other hand, registered his maiden Test half-century for India right before he was dismissed on the 50-run mark.
Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara then made sure the visitors didn't lose any further wicket as they battled against the impressive bowling display by Australia.
India reached 96/2 at Stumps -- having Rahane and Pujara unbeaten on 5 and 9 respectively -- and still trail by 242 runs.
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