Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma made a grand entrance for the Dharamsala Test against England, touching down at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium via helicopter. While the rest of the team had already arrived on Sunday, Rohit joined them on Tuesday, participating in an event alongside Sports Minister Anurag Thakur in Bilaspur and engaging in a cricket session with fans. The upcoming fifth Test match between India and England holds little significance in terms of the series outcome, as Rohit’s team has already secured an insurmountable 3-1 lead following a remarkable victory in the fourth Test in Ranchi.

Adding to the historical narrative of Test cricket, the upcoming match will witness off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and England batsman Jonny Bairstow marking their 100th Test appearance together. This rare occurrence has only been observed on three previous occasions. The first instance featured former England captain Michael Atherton and Alec Stewart reaching the milestone against the West Indies at Old Trafford in 2000.

Captain Rohit Sharma has arrived at Dharamshala in Helicopter.

– THE GRAND ENTRY OF HITMAN…!!!! 🔥🙌 pic.twitter.com/uaWz4V3KLJ

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 5, 2024

 

Subsequently, three players, Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, and Stephen Fleming, achieved the feat during the South Africa-New Zealand Test in Centurion in 2006. The third occurrence took place when Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke reached their 100th Test milestone during the England-Australia Ashes contest in Perth in 2013.

The upcoming Test will not only celebrate Ashwin and Bairstow’s individual achievements but also mark just the second time in cricket history that two players from opposing teams reach their 100th Test milestone simultaneously. This unique event will be followed closely by another significant moment in cricket history, as New Zealand captain Tim Southee and his predecessor Kane Williamson prepare to play their 100th Test together during the second match against Australia, just one day after the India-England Test commences.

For Ashwin, who recently joined the elite club of bowlers with over 500 Test wickets, this milestone is a testament to his enduring excellence in the longest format of the game since his debut in 2011. Meanwhile, Bairstow, aged 34, will become the 17th Englishman to receive a 100th Test cap, having made his debut in 2012, marking a significant achievement in his cricketing career.

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