NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma provided India with the ideal start they needed after trailing by 356 runs in the first innings, leading from the front in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru on Friday.
But one unfortunate shot cut short his impressive stay at the crease, leaving him and the Chinnaswamy crowd in disbelief. Rohit, after scoring a solid 52, made a disappointing walk back to the pavilion.
Kiwi left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel delivered a ball on the off-stump, and Rohit leaned forward for a defensive stroke. However, the ball glanced off the inside edge and trickled onto the stumps before Rohit even realised it.
He stood there momentarily, head bowed, before slowly walking off the field.
Earlier, New Zealand were dismissed for 402 in their first innings, an hour into the second session, with Rachin Ravindra (134 off 157 balls) and Tim Southee (65 off 73 balls) putting together a brisk 134-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Resuming the day at 180 for three, New Zealand may have hoped to extend their advantage significantly, but India’s bowlers, spearheaded by Ravindra Jadeja (3/72), struck early to bring the visitors down to 233 for seven.
