London, Aug 2 (IANS) India’s ODI skipper Rohit Sharma made a surprise appearance at The Oval during day three of the ongoing fifth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test between the visitors and England.

Television cameras caught Rohit’s arrival at the venue and later showed him watching his side bat during the opening session. Rohit, dressed in a casual black denim shacket and jeans, appeared relaxed as he followed the proceedings.

The broadcast cameras returned to him towards the end of the first session, prompting former Australia women’s cricketer Mel Jones to say on air, “He would be pretty happy with what he has been seeing this morning.”

Notably, it is also the first time since announcing his retirement from the longest format in May this year that Rohit was spotted in the stands of a Test match. Spotted alongside Rohit was Akash Ambani, the Mumbai Indians owner.

On May 7, Rohit announced his retirement from Tests with immediate effect, ending a career where he amassed 4,301 runs from 67 Tests at an average of 40.57, including hitting 12 centuries and 18 fifties. Rohit also led India in 24 Tests, winning 12 and losing nine games.

Rohit averaged a wonderful 42.81 in 66 innings as an opener in Tests, including hitting nine centuries and eight fifties. He also oversaw India becoming runners-up in 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final after losing to Australia at The Oval.

Earlier in June 2024, Rohit had announced his retirement from T20Is after India beat South Africa by seven runs to win the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup. Fans will have to wait until October 2025 to see the ‘Hitman’ back in action, as India are not scheduled to play any ODIs before then.

Both Rohit and Virat Kohli – who has also stepped away from Test and T20Is – are expected to return for the ODI leg of India’s white-ball tour of Australia, starting on October 19 at Perth Stadium, and is followed by matches at Adelaide Oval and Sydney Cricket Ground on October 23 and 25 respectively.

–IANS

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