Opener Rohit Sharma played a brilliant captain’s innings on Thursday in Rajkot against England, scoring 131 runs in 196 balls. He forged a double-century partnership with left-hander Ravindra Jadeja as the pair bailed India out of early trouble when the hosts were struggling at 33/3 in the 9th over of their innings after electing to bat first.
However, Rohit Sharma got some criticism and trolling for getting out on a pull shot, to Mark Wood, and falling into the very clear trap by Ben Stokes, the England captain.
There was some early moisture in the pitch that helped England as Mark Wood and Tom Hartley dismissed Jaiswal, Gill, and Patidar.
Rohit and Jadeja bided their time early on before playing their strokes with freedom. Rohit, who had quiet couple of Tests in this series, was majestic in his stroke-making as he cracked 14 fours and 3 sixes in his innings. However, fans, and his team, were left wanting for more as Rohit Sharma got out with India’s score of 237.
Mark Wood started to bowl from around the wicket to Rohit and the plan for a short ball was clear: Ben Stokes put three men in catching position on the legside and two men in the deep on the legside. Rohit had earlier in the day done well to keep his pull shots down, but this time he went after a six and mistimed his pull shot, giving a simple catch to Stokes at mid-wicket.
The celebrations from Stokes, Wood, and the England players suggested how elated they were at their plan coming to fruition while Indian fans on social media were left frustrated by Rohit’s dismissal.
Trendulkar makes a funny tweet after Rohit Sharma gets out on a pull shot
Famous Twitter user @Trendulkar posted a hilarious tweet, highlighting that the pull shot is now both Rohit Sharma’s strength and his weakness.
Check it here:
Commentator Harsha Bhogle, meanwhile, heaped praise on Rohit’s “skill and maturity” as the skipper led from the front with an inexperienced middle-order to follow.
Bhogle tweeted: “A hundred of skill and maturity from the captain. Top test innings to pull a very inexperienced batting side out of a lot of trouble. #RohitSharma”
A hundred of skill and maturity from the captain. Top test innings to pull a very inexperienced batting side out of a lot of trouble. #RohitSharma
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 15, 2024
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