Rohit Sharma may not have made an impact in the opening innings of the first Test match against New Zealand, where India were all out for a historic low of 46, but the captain bounced back in the second innings on Friday to score a half-century, which helped the hosts reduce the lead by 125 runs at the close of Day 3 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Despite Rohit's aggressive knock, which ended on a rather unfortunate note with a dismissal that even left him in disbelief, a separate incident from the match became the talking point on social media.
In a hilarious clip shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Rohit was seen making his way to the Chinnaswamy ground from behind the sight screen, as the internet claimed that he probably lost his way at the venue. The video also showed teammate Rishabh Pant calling the captain from behind, but he ignored, probably amid the cheers from the crowd. Pant was not part of the action on Day 3 as BCCI's Medical Team chose to take precautions and urged the wicketkeeper to rest after he had injured his knee while fielding on Day 2. It was the same knee which underwent surgery following his car crash in December 2022. Pant was replaced by Dhruv Jurel on both days as New Zealand smashed 402 runs in the opening innings to take a 356-run lead, their biggest against India, who, on the contrary, conceded their biggest at home in 15 years. India never won a Test match on home soil after conceding a 200-plus run lead, with three of the four instances ending in defeat. Pant, who was seen practicing his batting at the Tea break on Day 3, is, however, expected to return to action on Day 4, with the wicketkeeper-batter set to join Sarfaraz Khan in the middle as India will resume their second innings on 231 for three. The latter will be aiming to score his maiden hundred after smashing an inspiring 78-ball 70*, while stitching a 136-run stand alongside Virat Kohli (70).
Rohit Sharma's 'Lost' Moment Goes Viral
Team India captain Rohit Sharma has an impressive list of accomplishments to his name, with the latest being his leadership in guiding his squad to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. However, this 37-year-old cricket star is also known for his charming quirks, particularly his tendency to leave sentences hanging and occasionally forget details. His most recent viral moment comes from the ongoing Test match series against New Zealand, where his on-field antics have fans smiling.
In the video, Rohit Sharma is spotted wandering onto the field from behind the sight screen, seemingly confused about the correct entrance while deep in thought about his game strategy. Adding to the moment, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who was closely trailing Rohit, decided to backtrack after witnessing his captain navigating through a maze of wires. Jurel opted for the original entrance to enter the field. Videos of the incident have gone viral, with comments like “I exclusively captured Rohit Sharma being Rohit Sharma” and “absolutely unfiltered,” highlighting the candid nature of the moment.
The incident sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many users drawing parallels to Rohit's past forgetful moments. In one such instance, he had forgotten the team's decision after winning the toss. While in another instance, he forgot where the coin was during the toss. Some users hilariously commented that Rohit might have forgotten his way in the tension of the match, while others remarked that he was simply being his “unfiltered” self.
India Struggles in the First Test Match
Rohit's decision to bat first in the opening Test backfired horribly as India were shot out for a mere 46 inside 32 overs, recording their third lowest total in 593 Tests and lowest-ever in 293 matches on home soil. The Indian captain fronted the media after end of play on Thursday and acknowledged that he erred in reading the M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch, while citing that not all calls taken by leadership can always be right. However, the captain managed to bounce back in the second innings on Friday to score a half-century, which helped the hosts reduce the lead by 125 runs at the close of Day 3.
Notably, Rishabh Pant did not participate in Day 3 match as the BCCI's Medical Team advised rest for the wicketkeeper, following a knee injury sustained while fielding on Day 2. This is the same knee that was operated on after his car accident in December 2022. Pant, observed practicing his batting during the Tea break on Day 3, is anticipated to make a comeback on Day 4. The wicketkeeper-batsman is slated to accompany Sarfaraz Khan at the crease as India resumes their second innings at 231 for three.
A Game of Two Halves
New Zealand set a formidable first-innings score of 402, gaining a substantial lead of 356 runs. This total was bolstered by a century from Rachin Ravindra, who scored 134 runs, along with valuable contributions from Devon Conway, who made 91 runs, and Tim Southee, who added 65 runs. This came after India was bundled out for just 46 runs, marking their lowest total in a Test match on home soil, on day two of the match. While India's batting performance in the first innings was a major disappointment, Rohit's resurgence in the second innings and the team's overall performance in the second innings offer a glimmer of hope for the remaining Tests.
The Future of the Series
The Indian team will be looking to bounce back from the disappointing first innings and turn the series around. The series is still wide open and India will be hoping to level the series in the next Test. The team's ability to adapt to the conditions and perform consistently will be crucial in determining the outcome of the series.
