India captain Rohit Sharma provided a moment of amusement during the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, as he appeared to forget the correct path to the field while navigating behind the sight screen. This light-hearted incident captured attention on social media, even as Rohit scored a half-century, helping India recover to 231 for 3 at stumps on day three, following a dismal first-innings total of just 46.
After struggling with just two runs in the first innings, Rohit Sharma bounced back with a solid 52 in the second innings. However, it was his amusing misdirection that stole the show online. In a video shared on ‘X’, Rohit is seen wandering off track as he heads onto the field, seemingly distracted by his tactics.
Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who was trailing Rohit, decided to turn back and use the original entrance instead of following his skipper through the tangled wires. Jurel had stepped in for Rishabh Pant, who was sidelined after taking a blow to his knee on day two but was later spotted practicing his batting.
In terms of performance, Rohit shared a vital 72-run partnership for the opening wicket with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 32, setting a solid foundation for India’s second innings on Saturday.
New Zealand dominated the first innings with a total of 402, gaining a hefty lead of 356 runs, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s century (134) and contributions from Devon Conway (91) and Tim Southee (65). India’s first innings total of 46 marked their lowest score in a Test match on home soil.
Despite a rain-affected first day, India managed to finish day three at 231 for 3, now trailing by 125 runs. The top order, featuring Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Sarfaraz Khan, rallied to produce the necessary runs. Kohli also made a significant contribution with his 70, while Sarfaraz Khan remained not out on 70, as they formed a crucial 136-run partnership for the third wicket. Although both Rohit and Kohli may regret not converting their fifties into centuries, their efforts have kept India competitive in the match.