Pat Cummins becomes first captain in 147 years to achieve this feat with Rohit Sharma's wicket, breaks Imran Khan and Richie Benaud's record

Pat Cummins becomes first captain in 147 years to achieve this feat with Rohit Sharma's wicket, breaks Imran Khan and Richie Benaud's record
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates the dismissal of Rohit Sharma of India (R) during day five of the Men's Fourth Test Match in the series between Australia and India at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 30, 2024 in Melbourne.

Story Highlights:

Pat Cummins registered a double wicket-maiden.

Mitchell Starc got rid of Virat Kohli in the first session.

Rohit Sharma has been in poor form in the series.

Australian captain Pat Cummins on December 30 scripted history at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with the wicket of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. Cummins broke the record for a captain dismissing an opposition captain most time in Test cricket. This was the sixth time Cummins dismissed Rohit in Tests where both of them were leading. 

The previous record was held Australia's Richie Benaud and Pakistan's Imran Khan. Benaud had dismissed England's Ted Dexter five times whereas Imran got the better of Sunil Gavaskar five times. 

Overall, this is the 11th time Cummins has dismissed Rohit in international cricket. The top spot belongs to South Africa's Kagiso Rabada and New Zealand's Tim Southee. 

In the first session of Day 5, Cummins in his seventh over ended Rohit's stay at the crease. The opener tried to flick the fuller delivery from Cummins but the leading edge went straight to gully fielder Mitchell Marsh. 

Rohit scored just nine runs from 40 balls. This is his fourth single-digit score in the series. So far, he has scored just 31 runs in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The 37-year-old has scored in double digits just once. 

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On the other hand, Cummins is Australia's leading wicket-taker in the series. After Rohit's wicket, he set up KL Rahul nicely. On the last ball of the over, Rahul was strangled in the crease by the back of the length delivery as he edged one to Usman Khawaja at first slip. 

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As India lost three wickets including Virat Kohli in the first session, they were 33 for 3 in the run chase. Kohli got out playing a delivery outside off stump. He was lured into playing a cover drive by Mitchell Starc and Khawaja took another catch. 

Shastri feels Rohit will retire, Kohli will march on 

After the first session, former India head coach Ravi Shastri was asked whether it is curtains for Rohit and Kohli. Shastri feels that there will be discussions with Rohit after the conclusion of the series as his footwork is not what it used to be. On the other hand, Shastri said that Kohli can go on to play three to four years.