Former India Test captain Rohit Sharma, who retired from the format earlier this year, made a surprise appearance at The Oval in London to watch the ongoing fifth and final Test between India and England.
Rohit Sharma Spotted at The Oval
Cricket enthusiasts and fans were surprised to see Rohit Sharma in attendance at The Oval on Saturday, as India aimed to build a significant lead against England on day three of the final Test match. His appearance comes months after he announced his departure from red-ball cricket.
Social media buzz quickly followed, with many sharing glimpses of the former captain watching the intense cricketing action.
His Retirement from Test Cricket
Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket in May, citing an “absolute honour to represent my country in whites.” He shared a photo of his Team India Test cap on Instagram to mark the occasion.
This decision followed a challenging tour of Australia earlier in the year, which included a tough loss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. His performance leading up to the retirement had seen a dip, with an average of just 6.63 runs over his last 11 Test innings.
In one particularly tough outing during a 340-run chase at the MCG, he managed only nine runs from 40 deliveries, highlighting the struggles he faced in the longest format of the game.
A New Era for Indian Test Cricket
Following Rohit’s retirement, Shubman Gill was named the new Test captain for the Indian cricket team. This move marked a new chapter for Indian red-ball cricket, especially with Virat Kohli also having stepped back from Test cricket.
The team is now transitioning, with new leaders and young talent taking center stage to shape its future in the Test arena.
Shubman Gill’s Captaincy Shines
Under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, India has seen impressive performances. Gill himself has been in exceptional form, breaking multiple records in the ongoing series against England.
He became the Indian captain with the most runs in a single Test series during this fifth match. Furthermore, Gill has notched up four centuries in the series, joining an elite club that includes cricketing legends Sir Donald Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar as only the third captain to achieve this feat.
Current Match Update: India’s Fightback
On Saturday, India showcased a strong fightback in the fifth Test. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Akash Deep both scored half-centuries, helping India reach 189 for 3 at lunch on day three.
Akash Deep’s 66 runs off 94 balls marked his maiden Test half-ton. He and Jaiswal put together a crucial 107-run partnership for the third wicket, giving the visitors a significant overall lead of 166 runs against England. Akash Deep was eventually dismissed before lunch by pacer Jamie Overton.
- Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket in May after a period of poor form.
- Shubman Gill has taken over as India’s Test captain.
- Gill has set new batting records, including four centuries in the current series against England.
Rohit’s presence at The Oval highlights his continued connection to the sport and the team, even as India moves forward into a new phase of Test cricket.
