The stakes were high, the stage was ready and weather perfect -- for someone like Rohit Sharma to come, see, conquer -- and write an essay with the bat that defined his prodigious talent and character. Such was his dominance and poise with the bat that it did not look like he was playing his maiden innings in a Test match as an opener. The defences were tight, shot selections impeccable with exemplary batting flair that matched the highest order.  Much was argued about his technique and temperament in playing Test cricket with the red ball, but the ODI vice-captain has silenced all his critics once for all with masterclass innings as an opener. If Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir had expressed full confidence in Rohit Sharma as a Test opener there were a few former players who had doubts in their minds.

Former India opener and now UP Sports Minister Chetan Chauhan feels this was a character-defining innings which had come at the right time. "He was under pressure. We all know he is a very talented batsman. But for some reasons was not getting runs in Test. So when he saw this opportunity, he just grabbed with both hands. Though I could not see his innings because of my engagements with UP Assemby but whatever I have learnt showed he meant business. It was indeed a character defining innings," Chauhan told Republic TV on a telephonic conversation from Lucknow.

India's batting legend and arguably one of the greatest ever opener Sunil Gavaskar, during the Tea time chat show in Star Sports, said the way Rohit played showed how much he evolved as a player. "He paced his innings very well. Initially, he played the second fiddle allowing Mayank to take centre stage. But once he had his eyes set in, he just took the game away. Marvellous batting." Rohit, along with Mayank Agarwal dominated the game from the beginning and stitched together in style an unbeaten double century opening partnership (202), something Indian cricket has not seen for years.

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