While the first test match between India and Sri Lanka is a landmark test for Virat Kohli, it’s also a landmark test for another Indian legend Rohit Sharma who walked out today to captain India in a test match for the first time in his career.
Rohit has captained India in plenty of white ball games in the past, but this was the first time he took charge of the test team and the experienced opener looked excited about the opportunity. He had some decisions to make straightaway, as Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were dropped and two replacements had to be picked out of the three options available.
Rohit decided to go with Hanuma Vihari at no. 3 and Shreyas Iyer at no. 5, leaving Shubman Gill on the bench for the time being, although Gill was a very strong contender for the middle order spot as well. While Hanuma Vihari has waited on the bench for a long time, being there and thereabouts in the pecking order and deserved to be picked, Shreyas Iyer was also an automatic selection after the way he had batted in the last home test series against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma picked three spinners and two fast bowlers in his first test match as Indian captain
As far as the bowling is concerned, although the pitch in Mohali is believed to be ideal for fast bowlers at times, the pitch for this particular match looked a bit dry and Rohit Sharma decided to go with an extra spinner in Jayant Yadav, alongside India’s two regulars Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Rohit himself didn’t have a great time with the bat though. He was looking in top form, having won the toss and elected to bat first, but trying to take on the short bowling of Lahiru Kumara with a lofted pull shot, the Indian captain was holed out at the deep long leg boundary.
Here is how twitter reacted as Rohit took charge as India’s 35th test captain today –
Rohit Sharma's
1st ODI as Captain vs SL
1st T20I as Captain vs SL
1st Test as Captain vs SL*He is 1st Indian Captain to made his Captaincy Debut against Same Opponent in all formats#INDvSL
Advertisement— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) March 4, 2022
Rohit Sharma is now the first player whose Test, ODI and T20I career began as a non-opener but opened in first Test, ODI and T20I as a captain.#INDvSL
Advertisement— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 4, 2022
Waking up with Rohit Sharma in blue blazer and leading india in tests. @ImRo45 so proud of you. ❤️❤️
Advertisement— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) March 4, 2022
From getting dropped in the team to becoming the captain of Test Team he has come a long way
Rohit Sharma's journey is an inspiration to everyone #TestSkipperROarBegins pic.twitter.com/QECvoKbP1rAdvertisement— Asha (@ashaa_45) March 3, 2022
Rise of Hitman in Test Cricket is unreal. Rohit has shown perseverance. Now he will lead India in Test Cricket. All the Best Skipper!#TestSkipperROarBegins#RohitSharma https://t.co/ReYopMxdmP pic.twitter.com/22ctuEUCj2
Advertisement— PRΔDEEP (@Fanboy45Rohit) March 3, 2022
Finally it's time to welcome our new test Captain 'Rohit Sharma'#TestSkipperROarBeginshttps://t.co/1m7PM13T6X pic.twitter.com/XFaEZwRfNi
Advertisement— ishant (@Ishant45_) March 3, 2022
Rohit Sharma – Indian Test captain – The script many couldn't write few years back but he made it possible. pic.twitter.com/2LztZOdwP1
Advertisement— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 4, 2022
Me watching Test captain Rohit sharma on tv pic.twitter.com/xeajo05C4x
Advertisement— Lakshman (@Rebel_notout) March 4, 2022
Rohit Sharma's test cricket journey in just 4 pics. #RohitSharma𓃵 . @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/s5WXoT81gB
Advertisement— ᴍᴏʜɪᴛ𝟒𝟓 (@MohitRohitian) March 4, 2022
