Former England cricketer Nick Knight has pointed out a pivotal moment in the Test series between India and England that potentially altered its trajectory. Following England's confident start with a 28-run victory in the opening Test at Hyderabad, they held a 1-0 series lead and seemed in control. However, during the crucial 3rd Test in Rajkot, with India struggling at 47/3, an opportunity to further assert their dominance was squandered.
Joe Root's mistakes that hurt England
Tom Hartley managed to induce an edge from Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who was then on 27 runs. Unfortunately for England, Joe Root, positioned at slip, failed to secure the catch, granting Rohit a significant reprieve. This moment turned out to be a turning point in the series, as Rohit capitalised on the chance, amassing a remarkable 131 runs from 196 balls. His innings played a key role in India's emphatic victory by 434 runs in Rajkot, allowing them to take a 2-1 series lead.
Knight observed that following the missed catch, Rohit elevated his performance, becoming a formidable challenge for the English bowlers throughout the remainder of the series.
"If the captain is feeling under a bit of pressure, he's been targeted by the opposition, it makes everybody in the dressing room vulnerable. When you look at the two sides, you have Ben Stokes, whose performances individually haven't been where he wanted them to be," Knight told JioCinema.
"About Rohit, I go back to one factor that might have determined the outcome of the series, and it's Joe Root dropping Rohit in Rajkot. Rohit got an outside edge off Tom Hartley and Root put that down. At that point, he was contributing but not big scores. From that moment onwards, he has pushed on. When you look back at the bigger picture of the series, it was quite crucial," he added.
Rohit continues good form in Dharamsala
Post-Rajkot, Rohit's contributions were substantial, with 400 runs across five matches at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 58.8, including two centuries and two half-centuries. In the series-concluding Test at Dharamsala, Rohit achieved his 12th Test century, further showcasing his skill before England's Ben Stokes delivered a stunning delivery to end his innings.
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IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma continues his record-breaking streak, notches 12th Test ton to match Sunil Gavaskar's tally
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