Sports at the elite level are often all about mentality, rhythm, and attaining the elusive flow state where even strokes of genius begin feeling natural to the players. Rohit Sharma certainly was in one such sweet spot in Bengaluru on Friday during an entertaining boundary-laden knock of 52.
Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal earned India their first session win in the Test so far as they put a 72-run opening stand on Day 4 to help claw back the huge 356-run first innings lead taken by New Zealand. Even though the latter departed for 35 while unnecessarily trying to go big in the 18th over, the Indian skipper remained unfazed and upped the tempo spectacularly to ensure the Kiwis could not seize momentum.
The veteran set Matt Henry as his target and broke loose with a resplendent drive off a full delivery through square cover. Henry retaliated by firing in a bouncer but the opener simply sat back, waited for the ball, and with one smooth swing dispatched it between midwicket and square leg for a huge maximum. Evidently feeling the heat, Henry persisted with the back of a length delivery albeit he went a fuller this time but it was not enough to keep Rohit at bay as he pulled it along the ground to bring up a fantastic 59-ball half-century.
Twitterati was thrilled with the explosive batting at display and took to social media to express their jubilation.
4, 6, 4… What a cracking way to bring up a fabulous 50, Captain! #RohitSharma #IDFCFirstBankTestTrophy #JioCinemaSports #INDvNZ
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) October 18, 2024
Heartbreak moment #INDvNZ #RohitSharma
— RITIKA VERMA (@Ritikaverma2770) October 18, 2024
Bad luck #INDvNZ #BoodheHokeKyaBanoge #SanvidhanvirodhiMVA #YourBeautyYourPower #RohitSharma
— kaviyarani (@kaviyarani1) October 18, 2024
Chinnaswamy crowd reaction on Rohit Sharma’S dismissal. #INDvNZ #ViratKohli #RohitSharma Koh
— Vijay Singh (@VijaySikriwal) October 18, 2024
ROHIT SHARMA 50 BEFORE OUT 6,4,4.
What a shot #INDvNZ #INDvsNZ #TeamIndia #PAKvENG #UNRWA #WTC25 #Kohli #sharfazkhan
— Pawan Yadav (@PawanYa58815015) October 18, 2024
CAPTAIN ROHIT SHARMA YOU BEAUTY…!!!!
He completed his fifty with 4,6,4 at Chinnaswamy in tough situation – Captain Rohit leads by Example. #INDvNZ #ViratKohli #RohitSharma #TestAtHome#jaiswal #Captaincy
— Raja Sheoran (@rajasheoran5) October 18, 2024
Half Century with 4,6,4.
Leader Knock.
Unlucky #RohitSharma? #INDvsNZ
— Rohit Sharma (@NitinInnovates) October 18, 2024
This is what he can do.
Rohit 50 with 4,6,4.
The selfless mindset not caring for personal milestone#INDvsNZ #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/KhTrSJhDQU
— HomeLander_Raj (@RajHomelander) October 18, 2024
CAPTAIN ROHIT SHARMA YOU BEAUTY…!!!!
He completed his fifty with 4,6,4 at Chinnaswamy in tough situation – Captain Rohit leads by Example.
#AvinashMishra #INDvNZ #ArrestMoulanaRashidi #ValmikiJayanti2024 #LiamPayne #RohitSharma #ViratKohli #AliceKaushik #BB18…
— Mr & Mrs Smith (@comic5487) October 18, 2024
What a shot played by Rohit Sharma – 4,6,4 #INDvNZ | #RohitSharma
— NS (@NxS_45) October 18, 2024
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