Watch: Rohit Sharma was picked up by the stump mic taking a jab at the South African bowling attack while batting during the afternoon session on day one of the Newlands SA vs IND Test today (January 3).

India came out all guns blazing with the bat after bowling South Africa out for 55, the lowest total any team has been bowled out for against India in Tests.

Rohit Sharma, battling a poor record in the country, was especially aggressive to begin with, racing to 36 off his first 24 balls. India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early, but Shubman Gill stitched a quickfire 55-run partnership for the second wicket in just 12.1 overs with Rohit.

During the second-wicket partnership, Rohit was heard talking to Gill about the South African bowling attack. As Kagiso Rabada was walking back to his mark after bowling the second ball of the seventh over, Rohit, standing at the non-striker’s end, told Gill that he’s the only real threat they need to worry about.

“Ye ek hi bowler hai. Aur koi zyada hai nahi [He’s the only bowler they have. They don’t have anyone else],” Rohit told Gill.

Rohit, who has a poor record against Rabada, survived a lbw call against him after successfully reviewing the umpire’s decision. However, he wasn’t able to convert his good start into his first 50-plus score in Tests in South Africa as he was dismissed by Nandre Burger, getting caught at gully off the shoulder of his bat.

India went into Tea on day one with the score reading 111-4 but were bowled out for 153 after they lost their final six wickets for no runs inside two overs.

Watch Rohit Sharma take a jab at South Africa’s bowling attack:

rohit to gill : yeh ek bowler hi hai (rabada) baaki koi hai nahi 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/RsgEcG4QiC

— Shau (@shxuryaa) January 3, 2024

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.