Rohit Sharma suffers back injury ahead of IPL 2024, Jasprit Bumrah leading India in Dharamsala Test

Team India, on Saturday (March 9), took the field for the second innings of the ongoing fifth Test against England without their skipper Rohit Sharma. India started the proceedings with the bat on day three of the Test at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

India were on 473 for 8 at the start of the day’s play with Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah being the unbeaten batters. The two could add only four runs to the overnight score before James Anderson dismissed Kuldeep to complete 700 wickets in Tests.

Even before India could add a run, Shoaib Bashir struck to dismiss Bumrah and wrapped up the Indian innings for 477. And as the Indian players took the field, Rohit Sharma was nowhere to be seen. In his absence, vice-captain Bumrah was leading the side before the BCCI delivered an update on the captain. The BCCI stated that Rohit Sharma could not take the field due to a stiff back, writing:

“Captain Rohit Sharma has not taken the field on Day 3 due to a stiff back.”

UPDATE: Captain Rohit Sharma has not taken the field on Day 3 due to a stiff back.#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2024

India as well as Mumbai Indians will be hoping that the injury is not serious and Rohit Sharma recover soon. Soon after the ongoing Test ends, the veteran batsman will link up with the Mumbai Indians camp for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. IPL 2024 is scheduled to start on March 22.

Rohit Sharma stars with the bat:

Earlier in the ongoing Test, Rohit Sharma starred with the bat to put India in the driver’s seat. After the bowlers bowled out England for 218 runs on the first day, Rohit led his team from the very front by scoring a fine century. He shared century-plus stands with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.

He and Jaiswal added 104 runs for the first wicket before the latter departed for 57. Rohit and Gill then added 171 runs for the second wicket. Ben Stokes broke the stand by dismissing Rohit for 103 while Gill scored 110 runs before being dismissed by James Anderson.

Meanwhile, England have started poorly with the bat in the second innings as well. After conceding a big lead of 259 runs, the visitors were reeling on 21 for 2 at the time of writing this report.