On Day 2 in Dharamsala, India seizes the lead against England as Rohit Sharma notches his 12th Test century.Rohit Sharma showcased his dominant form, securing his 12th Test century against England on Day 2 of the Dharamsala Test.

The Indian captain, maintaining his exceptional performance throughout the current World Test Championship cycle, achieved his second century of the series and approached the milestone of 400 runs. Remarkably, Rohit stands as the sole Indian among the top-10 run-scorers in the WTC. Alongside Shubman Gill, their formidable partnership for the second wicket propelled India into the lead.

Starting from his overnight score of 52, Rohit Sharma swiftly shifted into high gear, reminiscent of his aggressive displays at the World Cup. Following a maiden and a tight over by James Anderson, Rohit unleashed his power, launching a six and a four off consecutive deliveries from Shoaib Bashir. Subsequently, Shubman Gill seized control in the following over, striking Anderson for a six and two boundaries in three balls, accumulating 14 runs and flourishing the partnership between the two.

Shubman Gill’s Spectacular Show Takes Center Stage

At 68 runs, Rohit Sharma provided England with a fleeting opportunity for a dismissal as he glanced the ball, narrowly missing the leg slip fielder. Following this, Rohit refrained from hitting boundaries for a brief period, although Shubman Gill continued to excel. As James Anderson faced the heat, Mark Wood also experienced the batter’s prowess, as he elegantly struck a couple of boundaries, drawing applause from his father in the stands.

Gill Leads with 400 Runs, Rohit Breaks Shackles.Shubman Gill reached the 400-run mark for the series before Rohit Sharma, marking his second-highest run tally in a Test series, just behind his 529 runs against South Africa at home in 2019. Following a period of quiet, Rohit unleashed his power, creating room for himself and smashing Mark Wood through the off-side for a boundary, reminiscent of his IPL prowess. Notably, Ben Stokes had positioned six fielders in the deep for Rohit, yet he opted to target extra cover for the four. As the runs continued to flow, Rohit and Gill celebrated their century partnership.

Rohit Sharma Surges After a Gradual Beginning

This marks Rohit’s third fifty-plus score of the series, adding to his innings of 131 in Rajkot and 55 in the previous match at Ranchi. With Virat Kohli sidelined, much rested on Rohit’s shoulders to lead the team, especially after India’s defeat in the opening Test in Hyderabad, which only heightened the pressure. Despite a slow start to the series, registering scores of 24, 39, 14, and 13, Rohit showcased his brilliance in the third Test, crafting a remarkable century and forging a pivotal partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, rescuing India from a dire situation at 33/3.

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In Ranchi, the hometown of Dhoni, Rohit faced an early dismissal in the first innings. However, during India’s pursuit of a challenging 192-run target on a sluggish, deteriorating, and turning pitch, he anchored the innings, providing India with an excellent start alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Adding to his achievements, Rohit, playing the fifth Test of a series for the first time in his career, is also making it count in Dharamsala as India aims for a 4-1 finish.