On the third day of the fifth Test between India and England in Dharamsala, Team India faced an unexpected setback as their skipper Rohit Sharma was notably absent from the field as the team commenced their second innings. India, starting the day’s play at 473 for 8, saw Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah, the unbeaten batters, adding just four runs before James Anderson sent Kuldeep back to the pavilion, thereby reaching a milestone of 700 wickets in Test cricket.

Shortly thereafter, Shoaib Bashir dismissed Bumrah, bringing an end to India’s innings at 477. As the Indian players took to the field, the absence of Rohit Sharma was conspicuous. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) promptly provided an update on Rohit Sharma’s condition, stating that the skipper was unable to join the team due to a stiff back.

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This development raised concerns not only for Team India but also for Rohit Sharma’s IPL franchise, the Mumbai Indians, as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 was slated to commence on March 22. Rohit’s recovery ahead of the IPL season became a priority for both entities, with hopes that his back issue would not prove to be severe.

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

In the preceding stages of the Test match, Rohit Sharma had been a pivotal figure, leading his team with a commanding century performance. After India’s bowlers restricted England to 218 runs on the first day, Rohit displayed exemplary batting prowess, forging crucial partnerships with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. His century, supported by notable contributions from his teammates, provided India with a significant advantage.

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However, England’s batting struggles continued in their second innings, mirroring their earlier performance. With a substantial lead of 259 runs conceded to India, England found themselves in a precarious position at 21 for 2, further emphasizing the significance of Rohit Sharma’s absence from the field as the match unfolded.