[Watch] Chennai crowd chants ‘India cha raja Rohit Sharma’ during IND vs BAN 1st Test 2024

Indian Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma boasts a huge fan following, which was on full display on Day 1 of the ongoing Test against Bangladesh on Thursday, September 19, at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

As Rohit came out to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, the crowd erupted in cheers, chanting, “India cha raja Rohit Sharma,” followed by “Mumbai cha raja Rohit Sharma,” as he prepared to take the strike.

Fans can watch the clip here:

Earlier this year, Sharma captained India to their second T20 World Cup trophy, with the Men in Blue defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados and ending an 11-year wait for an ICC title.

He finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer and announced his retirement from the shortest format after guiding India to victory.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant rescue India after early blows

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to bowl first. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal got through the first five overs, scoring 14 runs without losing a wicket.

However, Hasan Mahmud struck for Bangladesh on the very first ball of the sixth over, dismissing Indian captain Rohit Sharma. The right-arm pacer forced an edge that was brilliantly caught by Shanto at second slip. Rohit made six runs off 19 balls, including one four.

Shubman Gill, coming in at No. 3, couldn’t contribute much and was caught down the leg side for a duck off eight balls. Former Indian captain Virat Kohli also had a disappointing outing, being dismissed for six and becoming Mahmud’s third wicket, leaving India at 34 for 3 inside 10 overs.

Since then, Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant have looked solid, putting together an unbeaten partnership of 54 runs off 83 balls for the fourth wicket. At lunch on Day 1, India are 88 for 3 after 23 overs, with Jaiswal scoring 37 off 62 balls and Pant making 33 off 44 balls.