Watch: Rohit Sharma rejects Kuldeep Yadav's DRS request; hilariously claps for spinner after escaping blunder

After India were wrapped for 255 runs in their first innings, setting England up a target of 399 runs to win in the second innings, Indian captain Rohit Sharma denied a review request from Indian bowler Kuldeep Yadav in the 3rd over of England’s second innings. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah bowled an outside off-stump full-pitched swinging delivery which was missed by batsman Zak Crawley.

While the Snickometer showed that there was nothing on the ball, Indian bowler Kuldeep Yadav was trying to convince Rohit Sharma to take the review. However, Rohit denied his request as he was closer to the ball and had observed that there was no contact between the bat and the ball. India’s captain hilariously applauded Kuldeep after it was shown on the big screen that there was no contact between the bat and the ball.

Watch: Rohit Sharma refuses to tolerate Kuldeep Yadav’s desperate DRS appeal

Thanks but no thanks Kuldeep 😜

Skipper Rohit Sharma is glad to have not taken the review for that one 😂 #INDvENG #BazBowled #IDFCFirstBankTestsSeries #JioCinemaSports #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/hnc7iSXlo3

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 4, 2024

pic.twitter.com/RtutRtEDZa

— Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (@Hanji_CricDekho) February 4, 2024

India did not get off to the expected start. When India was still batting at 28/0, they lost both of their openers, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, for 13 and 17 runs in the course of two runs. After the hosts lost two wickets in quick succession, Shubman Gill took over, scoring 81 runs off 112 balls with Shreyas Iyer. Iyer played some great shots and seemed calm. Iyer lost his cool and was out of the game after 29 runs off of 52 balls.

Having been unable to summon much of an innings, Rajat Patidar was dismissed for nine runs. Shubman Gill had to earn his wicket in front of over 1.2 billion fans, so he held onto it even though wickets were falling from the other end. Gill and Axar Patel put together a stand of 89 off 151 balls before Gill got his century. Before he was dismissed, Gill ensured that India’s lead had increased to 354 runs from 350 runs.

Axar Patel, who was having a decent time at the crease, was removed for 46 runs off of 84 balls, denying himself a well-earned half-century. The Indian lower order failed to muster many more runs, and Kuldeep Yadav was removed for a duck while KS Bharat was removed for six runs.

Soon after the departure of Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin added 26 runs for the ninth wicket. While Bumrah showcased a brilliant display of defense, Ashwin kept on rotating the strike from the other end and also hit boundaries. However, Jasprit Bumrah’s stay at the crease was ended by England spinner Tom Hartley as Bumrah ended up edging the ball towards the slips. Ashwin also fell in the very next over of Rehan Ahmed and the Indian innings was wrapped up for 255 runs.

The Indian cricket team now will want to win the match as England have a huge target in front of them. The Indian bowlers will be looking to find some early wickets and all the onus will be on Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up a six-fer in the first innings. The Indian spinners will also come into play as the Day 4 and 5 pitches will have more help for them and it might be difficult for the England batsmen to score runs.