IND vs SL: Twitter Divided As Rohit Sharma Declares India's Innings And Leaves Ravindra Jadeja Stranded On 175*
Indian captain Rohit Sharma had a tough decision to make on Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka. The all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, was inching closer towards his maiden double century and Rohit had to decide whether to declare or not.
Keeping in mind the objective of the team, Rohit opted to declare the innings, leaving Jadeja on 175*. It is his career-best score and his second century in Test cricket. However, social media was quite divided on the declaration.
While some justified it by saying India needed to win the Test and bowl the opponents out twice on a flat pitch, others felt that Jadeja could have been given until Tea to complete the milestone. Incidentally, a similar situation had happened before when current head coach, Rahul Dravid, had declared when Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 194*.
Nevertheless, the composed knock from Jadeja was a delight to see for the Indian fans, who have been asking for a promotion in the batting order for the Saurashtra all-rounder. Jadeja was involved in three different 100-run partnerships, becoming only the fifth Indian to do so.
Additionally, India’s lower-order strength came to the fore again. They were down at 228/5 having lost Shreyas Iyer but Rishabh Pant and Jadeja stitched a 104-run partnership where the former did the bulk of the work.
Pant fell on 96 but Jadeja continued in the company of Ravichandran Ashwin. They put on 130 for the 7th wicket before Mohammed Shami also hung around for Jadeja to add bonus runs to the total. Eventually, India declared at 574/8, their first 400+ total in the first innings in the last 22 Tests.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Rohit Sharma’s declaration:
They call him father of double hundreds because he can't see others make double hundreds #<!---->J<!---->a<!---->d<!---->e<!---->j<!---->a #<!---->r<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->x<!---->N<!---->N<!---->f<!---->G<!---->E<!---->a<!---->T<!---->4<!---->B
— Suraj Shekhar (@Suraj_shekhar_1) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
#<!---->J<!---->a<!---->d<!---->e<!---->j<!---->a #<!---->R<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t
Why did Rohit declare the innings? Jadeja was too close to his double hundred. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->d<!---->U<!---->K<!---->l<!---->V<!---->o<!---->h<!---->P<!---->p<!---->9— Krishna (@Krishna55371428) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Kohli declared in Pune 2019, when Jaddu got out on 91. He definitely would've waited for that milestone.
Likewise in Sydney 2019, he declared when Jaddu got out on 81. Otherwise we knew.#<!---->R<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t #<!---->J<!---->a<!---->d<!---->e<!---->j<!---->a #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->L #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->w<!---->i<!---->n p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->i<!---->7<!---->T<!---->S<!---->l<!---->k<!---->C<!---->P<!---->I<!---->F— Ajay Dhumal (@ajaydhumal5500) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Now we realized #<!---->v<!---->i<!---->r<!---->a<!---->t is better captain in term of giving opportunity to other player compare to #<!---->r<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t#<!---->j<!---->a<!---->d<!---->e<!---->j<!---->a k 200 ho jane dete..
— Inexorable ? (@dearguy_lost) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
The country is above the player. The team is above the player. Yet, it's heart broken when once in a life chance is lazily denied to a player who dedicated his life for the team. For team, it's just another win. For the person, it's lifetime achievement. #<!---->J<!---->a<!---->d<!---->e<!---->j<!---->a #<!---->R<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t #<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->i<!---->a 200
— Debashis Sarmah (@debashisDS) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
That's too lame and ridiculous decision Mr #<!---->R<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t Sharma and Mr #<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d.
Feeling pity for #<!---->S<!---->i<!---->r<!---->J<!---->a<!---->d<!---->e<!---->j<!---->a
If he was allowed to play 2-3 overs more, he'd have definitely scored a double!
Such a dung decision by Rohit!
No rain, pitch deteriorating, bowlers all tired..still!!— Irfaan Rehman (@IrfaanRehman) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Used to have lot of respect on #<!---->R<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t but looking at what he did today , started loosing it. This is once in a life time opportunity he did so well to get till 175. Played so dedicatedly even after crossing 100 considering the team score is important. Really should have waited
— Vikram (@Vikram35520277) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
What? ? @<!---->I<!---->m<!---->R<!---->o<!---->4<!---->5 just a 25 runs away for @<!---->i<!---->m<!---->j<!---->a<!---->d<!---->e<!---->j<!---->a for his maiden 200runs Int Test score. ??♂️ More than 40overs left for today's innings.#<!---->J<!---->a<!---->d<!---->e<!---->j<!---->a #<!---->R<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->r<!---->m<!---->a#<!---->R<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->L
— Dr Syed Irfan (@drirfan448) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
