India’s team leader, Rohit Sharma, didn’t play on Day 3, which was Saturday, March 9, in the current England test match in Dharamsala. A social media post from BCCI updated us: Rohit Sharma stayed off the field due to back stiffness.
Here’s what BCCI said on X (previously Twitter):
“UPDATE: Captain Rohit Sharma has not taken the field on Day 3 due to a stiff back.”
Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain, steps in to lead in Rohit Sharma’s place. Two years ago, under similar circumstances, he led the team in a one-off Test. This was against the same rival in Edgbaston. Rohit Sharma was absent then too, due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
Jasprit Bumrah leading India well in Rohit Sharma’s absence
The hosts added four additional runs to their overnight score of 473/8 before being bowled out, leaving them with a whopping 259-run advantage. Jasprit Bumrah began with the new ball, but elected to give it over to Ravichandran Ashwin for the second over from the opposite end rather than Mohammed Siraj.
The strategy succeeded, as Ashwin took the wickets of Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, and Ollie Pope. When Jonny Bairstow opted to go after Ashwin, Bumrah introduced Kuldeep Yadav into the attack, which worked as Kuldeep grabbed the dangerous right-hander.
Ashwin was called back into the attack in place of Ravindra Jadeja, and he dismissed Ben Stokes on the stroke of lunch. Almost every modification Bumrah has implemented in the morning session has been beneficial to India, which is why team management has appointed him to the leadership group.
England are in deep danger at 103/5 at lunch, down by 156 runs. They are in danger of losing by an innings, and the hosts will try to finish the game today.