Chasing 395, South Africa were bowled out for 191. India had set an improbable target after declaring their second innings at 323-4 with Rohit Sharma scoring 127. He had earlier scored 176 runs in the first innings, becoming the only Indian test to score twin hundreds in his maiden test as opener.
The hosts had scored 502-7 in the first innings with Sharma putting on a record 317 runs for the first wicket with Mayank Agarwal (215).
Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock had scored counter-attacking centuries to propel South Africa’s first innings’ reply to 431.
Speaking about his performance, Rohit Sharma revealed that he never cared about what people think about him.
“I have protected myself with a shield around me (to avoid negativity) for a long time now. All those things… what happens outside doesn’t come inside that shield. What people say and what people think of me doesn’t really bother me. Eventually, I have to play my game and enjoy my game.”
“What happens outside… I never thought about those things. When I was young, I never thought about what people will talk about me. Now that people are talking, I have protected myself with shield and that shield is strong. Nothing comes past that,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference.