Virat Kohli justifies inclusion of Rohit Sharma in Nagpur Test, Rohit trends on Twitter

After a closely contested game in Kolkata, the action moved to Nagpur for the second Test between India and Sri Lanka. There was a lot of hype around the Indian contingent since two spots were up for grabs after Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan were released from the squad. All eyes were on Indian skipper Virat Kohli when he walked out for the toss.

After having lost the toss, the Indian captain disclosed the team combination for the game. Surprisingly enough, the five bowler theory that the team had been talking about, went for a tizzy as the Indian team fielded an extra batsman. Kohli drafted in Rohit Sharma in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This was surprising since a like-for-like replacement was being expected in the game.

Virat Kohli also announced a couple of more changes in the team. Opener Murali Vijay came in for Shikhar Dhawan and pace bowler Ishant Sharma was brought in the playing eleven at the expense of Mohammad Shami. Kohli revealed that Shami had a bit of a niggle and hence was rested for the game. Well, both stars of Indian bowling of the Kolkata Test were out of the playing eleven at Nagpur.

While the exclusion of Shami was understood, the inclusion of Rohit Sharma for a bowler was something that many could not comprehend. Skipper Kohli then explained why the team opted to play with him. He noted that the management was keen on giving Rohit some match practice ahead of the upcoming assignments.

“Shami has got a bit of niggle in his left hip, so Ishant comes in place of him. Rohit comes in place of Bhuvi. We wanted to give him some game time. He has been around in the Test team for a while and he has not got many chances. And third one, Vijay obviously replaces Shikhar at the top,” Virat Kohli said at the toss.

In all fairness, it seems that an extra batsman could be the way ahead for India in the upcoming tour of South Africa. Amidst all this, batsman Rohit Sharma ended up becoming a trending topic on Twitter.

Here is how Twitterati reacted to Rohit’s inclusion:

Interesting that India have gone away from the five bowlers route. Want Rohit Sharma to get game time. That means 6 batsmen could be the way in South Africa

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 24, 2017

Rohit Sharma back in the test squad after a year…

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) November 24, 2017

“Rohit Sharma replaces Bhuvi” – Kohli

Funny how the most consistent player is replaced by the most inconsistent one !!#INDvsSL #NerolacCricketLive

— This is Me (@scorpioyadav) November 24, 2017

Will someone please tell me what Rohit Sharma is doing in the playing XI today?#INDvSL

— Tunku Varadarajan (@tunkuv) November 24, 2017

Rohit Sharma returns to the Test XI, after a little over a year, at the place of his birth. Is his return a sign of things to come, with the SA tour coming up? #INDvSL

— Chinmay Jawalekar? (@CricfreakTweets) November 24, 2017

Why need Rohit Sharma when we have enough batting to last 2 days?? Should have tried Vijay Shankar#indvssl @cricbuzz

— That's A Rippah (@ThatsARippah) November 24, 2017

New headlines: Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma back in the team.
Gali ki aunties: Dekho dono sharma ji k bete fir se team me aa gaye, aur humare Gambhir ko dekho, bas tweet karta rehta hai.

— Ravi Gupta (@bittubittu) November 24, 2017

Any series, any match, any vanue#RohitSharma always trending on the top when he is in the playing XI.
He is beating every one ???

— Virat Kohli FC ™ (@Viratkohli_cc) November 24, 2017

Rohit Sharma is the man who alone can change the result of any match, whether it's T20 or Test Match.
Welcome in Test Squad once again.

— Ajay Pal Pritam (@ajaypalpritam) November 24, 2017

Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma back in the team. Sharma quota ?

— Vinayak Jain (@vinayak_jain) November 24, 2017

#Nagpur is Hitman's birth place. he will show what the man he is.
By making hundred.??#Nagpurtest #indvsl 2nd test Rohit Sharma #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/CnCbnyt9Uy

— Pankaj Devnani?? (@ProPankaj_) November 24, 2017

Rohit sharma and ishant sharma in team, Aaj to sharma ji ke dono bete khel rahe hai, didi ne sifarish ki hogi. #INDvSL

— Sagar (@sagar_rc) November 24, 2017

Poor team selection from India to include Rohit Sharma in place of a bowler especially when your main two stroke bowlers are out. Defensive approach from aggressive Kohli! #INDvsSL

— Girin Govind (@GirinGovind) November 24, 2017

Not a great choice to bring in Ishant and Rohit into the side. But no option for Kohli as Shami is ruled out but he had the option of using Vijay Shankar as an all rounder ahead of Rohit Sharma. #INDvsSL

— Rangaprasad (@rangarulez) November 24, 2017

Rohit Sharma in Tests ..
6Nov,2013 against @westindies
Played last test on 12Oct,2016 against @BLACKCAPS
Matches- 21
Runs 1184
Average 37.00
100 – 2
50 – 7
High Score 177
And again playing today ??#INDvSL

— ???? ???? (@manthenalalu) November 24, 2017