Just 128 runs in 10 innings at an average of 12.80. That’s how Rohit Sharma has fared in his five Test appearances in South Africa.

One of the biggest factors behind such dismal numbers of Rohit happens to be Kagiso Rabada.

Since India’s tour in early 2018, the Proteas pacer has knocked Rohit over five times out of six innings on South African soil. Given Rabada’s quality as a bowler, he has troubled other modern-day greats as well, while the pitches in South Africa are challenging enough to make the job tougher for batters.

In fact, the ball with which Rabada castled Rohit during India’s second innings in the previous Test in Centurion was truly a peach of a delivery and could have undone any other batsman.

Having said that, Rohit has to ensure he finds a way to tackle Rabada as India need their captain to bring out his A-game in their must-win second and final Test in Cape Town, beginning on Wednesday. One way is to be a little more prudent and careful in terms of playing the pull, especially when a fielder is placed in the deep third-man or deep fine-leg region. There’s a good possibility that Rabada may tempt him again to go for the pull, which had resulted in Rohit’s dismissal in the first innings in Centurion.

“As a batter, you must look to get forward in South Africa. Rohit makes the mistake Asian batters have been making in South Africa for 30 years: playing from the crease, neither forward nor back... Comes from being scared of the pace and bounce,” former South Africa top-order
batsman Daryll Cullinan told The Telegraph on Monday.

“Rabada has brilliant follow-up lengths to his short balls. So, when he gets it fuller, you have to be forward with a solid defence. Indian batters get away with playing from the crease on their slower and less bouncier wickets back home,” Cullinan, who played 70 Tests and averaged 44.21, stated.

The Cape Town wicket, however, is expected to be a little more batter-friendly, which should be of some relief for Rohit.