Aoba Tanaka 
In the ongoing series against England, Rohit Sharma has not only been shouldering the responsibilities of captaincy in the absence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul but has also embraced the role of mentor for the young Indian team. The camaraderie and guidance were on full display during an amusing incident in the field on Thursday.
After the DRS (Decision Review System) drama unfolded over India’s missed opportunity to dismiss Zak Crawley, Rohit Sharma engaged in a light-hearted moment with young players Sarfaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal. In the 39th over, Rohit adjusted fielding positions, specifically for Sarfaraz Khan, who was moved to a finer position between leg slip and short leg. Rohit, in his trademark style, lifted Sarfaraz, placed him in the designated spot, and marked it with his shoe, leaving both Sarfaraz and Jaiswal in laughter.
This incident followed the 26th over’s confusion when Crawley’s dismissal was debated. Sarfaraz claimed the catch, but uncertainty lingered, leading to a discussion with Rohit. Despite the confusion, Rohit opted not to review, acknowledging the mistake later when the replay showed spikes on UltraEdge.
On Day 1 of the Dharamsala Test, India dominated proceedings. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s record-breaking spell dismantled England’s top and middle-order, securing five wickets. Ravichandran Ashwin, playing his 100th Test, further capitalized on the dominance, dismissing the lower order as England was bowled out for 218.
In response, India’s opening duo, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, provided a strong start. Jaiswal’s contribution took him past 700 runs in the series, becoming the second Indian batter after Sunil Gavaskar to achieve this feat. At stumps, India stood at 135/1, with Rohit Sharma (52*) and Shubman Gill (26*) ensuring a promising position, trailing England by just 83 runs. Rohit’s leadership and mentorship were evident, contributing to India’s commanding performance on Day 1.
