Cricket

Rohit Sharma's DRS Blunder Costs India Wicket in Dharamsala TestDuring England's first innings in the Dharamsala Test, Indian captain Rohit Sharma made a costly DRS error that allowed Zak Crawley to survive a clear edge. On the fifth ball of the 26th over, Crawley missed a glance shot off Kuldeep Yadav's bowling, and the ball hit wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel and lobbed towards the leg side. Sarfaraz Khan grabbed the ball before it hit the ground, sparking a massive appeal from India.Despite Sarfaraz's insistence, Rohit initially declined the request for a DRS review. However, replays and UltraEdge confirmed that Crawley had indeed edged the ball. The Indian skipper was left laughing in disbelief as Sarfaraz smiled wryly.This error proved costly for India, as Crawley went on to score a crucial 56 runs, helping England reach a respectable total of 218 in their first innings. The fragility of England's batters against spin was once again exposed, with Kuldeep Yadav claiming a five-wicket haul.In contrast, India showed their dominance on the flat track, cruising to 135 for one at stumps on day one. Rohit Sharma (52*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (57) put on a 104-run opening stand, the highest of the series for India. Jaiswal became only the second Indian to amass 700 runs in a series, after Sunil Gavaskar.The Indian pacers and spinners struggled to make an impact compared to their English counterparts. Jaiswal took advantage of this, smashing three sixes off Shoaib Bashir in his first over. Rohit Sharma also played confidently, hitting two maximums.At the close of play, India were in a strong position, with Rohit and Shubman Gill (26*) at the crease. The hosts will be looking to build on their advantage and secure a series victory in the final Test.

India's left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav unleashed a magical delivery reminiscent of the legendary Shane Warne, dismissing England's well-settled Zak Crawley on Day 1 of the 5th Test. Crawley, who had been tormenting the Indian bowlers, was left bamboozled by Kuldeep's chinaman delivery. The ball spun viciously, finding the fine gap between Crawley's bat and pad, and crashed into the stumps, leaving the England batter and spectators alike stunned.Kuldeep's delivery was measured to have spun an astonishing 10.9 degrees, a testament to his exceptional skill and control. Crawley, who was closing in on a century, was left shell-shocked as Kuldeep's "bunny out of the hat" sent him packing back to the pavilion.Kuldeep's five-wicket haul played a pivotal role in reducing England to 194 for eight at tea on Day 1. The Indian spinners, led by Kuldeep, ran through England's batting lineup, taking six wickets for just 94 runs after lunch.Opener Zak Crawley (79 off 108 balls) provided the lone resistance for England, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the collapse. England's middle order failed to provide substantial support, with only Joe Root (26) and Jonny Bairstow (29) managing to reach double figures.The Indian spinners dominated the proceedings, with Ravichandran Ashwin claiming four wickets and Ravindra Jadeja taking one. England's innings eventually ended at 218 in 57.4 overs, with all 10 wickets falling to the spinners.Kuldeep Yadav's remarkable delivery and five-wicket haul have put India in a commanding position in the 5th Test. The Indian spinners have once again proven their mettle, and England will need to find a way to counter their threat if they want to avoid a series defeat.