Indian Captain Rohit Sharma celebrates his century during the 1st day of 3rd Cricket Test Match between India and England at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, Gujarat on February 15, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji
Skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja dropped anchor on a benign track to lead a robust recovery for India, steering the hosts to 185/3 at tea on the first day of the third Test against England on Thursday.
Immediately after tea, Rohit crossed the 100 mark for his 11th Test hundred. Jadeja (68 batting) followed his captain’s cue in the second session with his 21st half-century.
Rohit and Jadeja cashed in on a batting-friendly surface here at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, which had provided early troubles to India’s youngsters in the first session.
India were left reeling at 33 for three in the first hour’s play having lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), Shubman Gill (0) and Rajat Patidar (5), but Rohit and Jadeja rebuilt the innings.
Rohit and Jadeja opted to grind it out in the morning session and impose themselves in the afternoon without taking any undue risks to put on 152 runs for the fourth wicket so far.
Jadeja went about his business with consummate ease to reach a resolute 68 not out from 126 balls with six boundaries and one six. The dashing all-rounder found the gaps on a packed leg-side field and his immaculate running between the wickets was the stand-out aspect of his knock.
Jadeja had fielders standing close to his bat and even on the leg side, but the local favourite displayed excellent use of his wrists to work the ball around for singles and doubles.
As the pitch flattened out under the sun to provide nothing in terms of assistance for the English bowlers, the visitors were forced to work with their field settings and try different angles with their bowling. But nothing seems to have worked out.
For more than one spell, express pacer Mark Wood, who rocked India twice early, barraged Rohit with a deep fine leg and deep square leg in place.
Rohit did not find any trouble dealing with the challenge and did not mind slowing down a little in the second session to ensure he returns for the final session to keep consolidating for India.
Scoreboard (at tea)
India 1st innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal c Root b Mark Wood 10 Rohit Sharma batting 97 Shubman Gill c Foakes b Mark Wood 0 Rajat Patidar c Duckett b Tom Hartley 5 Ravindra Jadeja batting 68 Extras: (LB-3 NB-2) 5
Total: (For 3 wickets in 52 Overs) 185
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-24, 3-33.
Bowling: James Anderson 11-3-25-0, Mark Wood 12-1-49-2, Tom Hartley 17-2-55-1, Joe Root 7-1-36-0, Rehan Ahmed 5-0-17-0.
