India captain Rohit Sharma did not take the field at the start of the third day of the fifth Test against England in Dharamsala as he was suffering from a stiff back. The vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah, took charge of the team in his absence.

Rohit, who has enjoyed a great time with the bat over the back end of the series, scored centuries in two of the last three Tests as well. He was key in establishing India’s advantage in Dharamsala alongside Shubman Gill, bringing up his 12th Test ton and his 10th at home as well. With all five of the top-order batters making fifty-plus scores, Team India managed to take a lead of 259 as the game moved forward as well.

Rohit Sharma scored his 12th Test ton

However, Rohit Sharma had stitched 104 and 171 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill respectively as India took hold of the game despite losing the toss as well. Jaiswal made 57, his fifth fifty in this series – two of which he converted into double-centuries too. Gill, on the other hand, scored his second century of the series.

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However, Team India are leading the series 3-1, bouncing back from a defeat in the first Test as well. Meanwhile, former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded opener Rohit Sharma for scoring another Test century.

Aakash Chopra lauds Rohit Sharma’s hundred

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra said, “He actually batted very cautiously. It wasn’t that he was set on 50, so he should start from there. He was giving himself time at the start. In fact, when the partnership was 100, Shubman Gill was the dominant partner. He had scored 65 and Rohit had scored only 33.”

“It’s not important which player scores how many runs. It’s important till where you can take that innings. The most beautiful thing that has happened in Rohit Sharma’s career was when he was made Test opener. We saw the 2.0 batter as soon as he became a Test opener. He has fallen in love with his defense,” the former India opener further added.