On February 13, 2021, while the "experts" were busy crying about the Chennai pitch being a "minefield," Rohit Sharma decided to play a different game altogether.

England arrived with their tails up, staring at a surface that was spitting dust from the first session. Most batters looked ghabarlele 😰, as if they were walking through a dark room, just hoping not to trip. But the Hitman? He walked out with that typical Mumbai shana swagger 😤. For him, it wasn’t about just surviving; it was about taking the game away before England even realised what hit them.

India slipped into early trouble, but Rohit was batting on his own terms. While others were searching for answers in the dirt, he treated that Chepauk rank-turner like a Saturday afternoon at Shivaji Park: total bindass intent. 😎

By lunch, India was sweating at 106/3, but Rohit had already smoked a fifty off just 47 balls. No 'dhak dhak' in the chest; just clear, positive stroke play. He knew he couldn't just sit there and let a ball have his name on it.

“I knew sweeping would be a good option… it was a safer option to take,” he said via ANI.

That sweep shot became his ultimate weapon. The Hitman used his feet and his reach to keep the spinners (Moeen Ali and Jack Leach) guessing for solutions. Watching him find gaps was like watching a Mumbaikar navigate the 6:00 PM peak-hour गर्दी at Dadar, finding space where none existed.

The numbers were a psychological boost: 161 off 231 balls, comprising 18 fours and two sixes. On a pitch where every run felt like pulling teeth, Rohit Sharma scored more than half of India’s total on Day 1. It was classic khadoos cricket: tough, stubborn, and lay bhari. 🥳

For the Paltan, this felt like home. Different whites, same ekdum kadak spirit. Under the pump, on a track that was falling apart, the Hitman showed why he’s a different breed. Calm, ruthless, and absolutely made for the big stage. Just pure Mumbai soul. 💙