Tim Southee grabbed onto a brilliant catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma after India got off to a fine start in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
Rohit stayed half-cocked to defend one that wasn’t quite there and didn’t cover the line fully. As a result, that’s flown off the outside edge of the bat to the right of Tim Southee who dives desperately to his right to cling onto a terrific catch. First blood for New Zealand after India got off to a flying start.
It’s the marginal, immeasurable hesitation coming forward to the steep bounce of the intimidating figure that’s got Rohit, who hasn’t really put a foot wrong until then.
Watch the video here:
First wicket #WTCFinal2021 #Rohitsharma #IndiaVsNewZealand#ICCWTCFinal pic.twitter.com/YIjJj5aDi8
— Sachin Pisar (@SachinPisar) June 19, 2021
India-New Zealand share honours in the first session
Asked to bat first, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got India off to a blistering start. They watched the ball till late and left the ones outside the off-stumps. India settled their nerves with some percentage cricket, picking on the bad balls, pouncing on the boundary ball.
It was perhaps the hit of the lid from Kyle Jamieson to Gill that turned the tide, at least psychologically. Rohit Sharma, after a compact, measured innings, was done in by Jamieson’s very first ball to him, his steepling bounce inducing an edge out of one of the tighter techniques in the side.
Shubman Gill, visibly shaken up after the blow to the helmet, followed soon after, troubled by Wagner’s angle. With the openers back in the hut, the old guard spent a short period settling in for bed and breakfast, before they headed off for lunch.