Birmingham: The Indian cricket team registered a historic six wicket victory over England in the first One Day International at Edgbaston, breaking a remarkable twelve year unbeaten streak held by the hosts at this venue. While the comprehensive win itself grabbed global headlines, a spectacular batting stroke by veteran opener Rohit Sharma and the subsequent reaction from commentator Dinesh Karthik have completely stolen the show on social media.
The viral incident took place during the initial phase of the Indian run chase. In the seventh over of the innings, English express pacer Jofra Archer delivered a rapid short pitched ball clocking around 144 kilometers per hour. Reading the length perfectly, Rohit executed his trademark short arm pull shot and sent the ball soaring over square leg for a magnificent boundary. As he completed the aggressive stroke, the Indian opener gracefully balanced his entire body on one leg.
Watching the sheer elegance of the shot from the commentary box, veteran Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik was visibly amazed. Karthik immediately pulled out his mobile phone, searched for an image of the iconic Nataraja pose of Lord Shiva, and proudly displayed it to his fellow commentator Stuart Broad. The Nataraja pose, depicting the divine cosmic dancer, perfectly mirrored the balanced stance Rohit achieved after hitting the ball. Karthik paused the broadcast replay to passionately explain the striking cultural resemblance to the former English fast bowler. The joyful reaction of Karthik quickly caught the attention of fans and went viral across digital platforms.
Beyond this magical moment, the match was dominated by a clinical Indian performance. Chasing a competitive target of 259 runs, captain Shubman Gill laid a solid foundation with a brilliant knock of 80 runs before retiring hurt. When the team faced a brief middle order stutter, all rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar stepped up responsibly. The duo stitched together an unbeaten century partnership, scoring 57 and 52 runs respectively, to guide India comfortably across the finish line with 28 deliveries to spare.
Earlier in the day, the Indian bowling attack triggered a massive top order collapse, leaving England reeling at 80 for five despite a solid opening start. Although veteran batter Joe Root anchored the innings with an unbeaten 76 and Liam Dawson added a crucial 68 runs, the hosts were eventually bowled out for 258. This commanding victory not only gives India an early lead in the series but also perfectly highlights their robust preparations for the format.
Dinesh Karthik showing Lord Shiva’s iconic Nataraj frame after watching Rohit Sharma’s shot against Jofra Archer during first ODI match 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/48MScbTZoA
— Ajay Jadeja (@AjayJadeja171) July 14, 2026