ENG vs IND: Rohit Sharma Breaks Hoodoo With Aplomb

Throughout this English summer, notwithstanding it being uninvitingly cold, clammy and cloudy, Rohit Sharma has looked like conquering the conditions and scoring a Test century. After promising to do

Indeed, it was a master-class in opening the batting and performing the sheet-anchor role at the highest level of cricket. A display even the peerless Sunil Gavaskar would be proud of.

Rarely in the four Tests in the clash so far, which is part and parcel of the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship, have the pitches or the aerial atmosphere been favourable for batting.

Yet Sharma looked unhurried and untroubled in dealing with the circumstances. In notching 36 in the first Test at Trent Bridge, 83 in the second at Lord's and 59 in the third at Headingley, he promised to deliver a ton every time, only to disappoint.

Now on another dull and dismal day, with the floodlights ensuring continuance of play, he finally defeated the demons.

But he let himself down with one more thoughtless pull - off the very first delivery with the second new ball bowled by Ollie Robinson - to be caught on the long leg fence by Chris Woakes.