India pounded England 4-1 in the five-match Test series, winning the fifth game by an innings and 64 runs on Saturday, March 9, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Notably, India was 0-1 down after the first game, with the Ben Stokes-led team overcoming a 190-run deficit in the first inning.
After losing the first Test, skipper Rohit Sharma energized a depleted Indian side without KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, inspiring them to a 106-run victory in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. However, Rohit’s performance in the first two games was far below average, with scores of 24, 39, 14, and 13.
Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott responded to the development with a scathing attack on the Indian skipper, claiming that he is no longer at his peak due to his age. However, the 36-year-old made an impressive comeback, scoring hundreds in Rajkot (131) and Dharamsala (103). Following India’s sweeping victory, Rohit discussed his retirement plans, revealing that he is willing to hang up his boots if he believes he is not good enough.
“One day, if I wake up and realize I am not good enough, I will resign immediately. But in the last few years, I’ve played the best cricket of my life,” Rohit stated after the match.
Rohit also received plaudits from head coach Rahul Dravid, who praised him for his crucial batting performances.
“Rohit Sharma has been outstanding in this series. When we were 3 down during the first hour in Rajkot, we needed someone to get us the hundred. “He batted brilliantly in Ranchi as well,” Dravid observed.
Rohit Sharma scored 400 runs throughout the series.
Notably, Rohit concluded the series as the fourth-highest run scorer, with 400 runs from nine innings at an average of 44.44, including two hundred and fifty. He scored a superb 131 (196), an innings packed with 14 fours and three sixes, and stepped up when his team faced a grim situation of 33/3 in Rajkot.
He also struck a match-winning 55 (81) in the fourth inning at Ranchi, helping India get off to a strong start despite chasing a target of 192 on a difficult Day 4 surface. The 36-year-old concluded the series with another century in Dharamsala, silencing his doubters once more.
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