Watch: Karthik shows Nataraj pose on phone after Rohit's shot

India began the three-match ODI series with a comfortable six-wicket win over England at Edgbaston on Tuesday (14th July, 2026). Chasing 259, India reached the target with 28 balls to spare, thanks to captain Shubman Gill's classy 80 before retiring hurt with cramps. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar then shared an unbeaten partnership to seal India's first victory of the ongoing tour of the United Kingdom.

One of the biggest talking points during the match came in the commentary box. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who was on commentary alongside former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, held up his phone to the camera and showed an image of Lord Shiva's iconic Nataraj pose. The moment came shortly after Rohit Sharma played a stylish flick shot off Jofra Archer, leaving fans curious about the reason behind Karthik's gesture.

The clip quickly went viral on social media, with many fans trying to understand the connection between Rohit's shot and the image shown by Karthik.

Watch the viral video here:

Why did Dinesh Karthik show an image of Lord Shiva after Rohit Sharma's flick shot?

The moment came after Rohit Sharma played a stylish pull shot off Jofra Archer during India's chase at Edgbaston. While commentating on the match, Dinesh Karthik described it as the "Nataraja shot," a stroke in which the batter lifts the back leg while swinging the bat on the leg side. The shot is widely associated with Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev.

Karthik then held up his phone to the camera and showed an image of Lord Shiva in his Nataraja form. The gesture was a reference to the shot's name, as Nataraja is one of the names of Lord Shiva and means the "Lord of Dance." The moment quickly caught the attention of fans watching the match.

However, Rohit's innings did not last much longer. In the following over, left-arm pacer Sam Curran dismissed the veteran batter for 11. Rohit mistimed his shot, and England captain Harry Brook completed the catch to end his stay at the crease.

England dismiss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cheaply after limping to 258

England fought back strongly during India's chase by dismissing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cheaply after setting a target of 259 at Edgbaston. The experienced pair, returning to India's ODI setup, failed to make a big impact as England's pace attack struck at crucial moments to put the visitors under pressure.

Rohit was the first to depart after scoring 11 off 21 balls. Looking to attack left-arm pacer Sam Curran, he stepped down the pitch and attempted to play across the line. However, the ball moved away slightly, resulting in a mistimed shot that was safely caught by England captain Harry Brook. Soon after, Jofra Archer trapped Virat Kohli lbw for just 5 runs.

Archer first tested Kohli with a short delivery before bowling a fuller ball that struck him in front of the stumps. Umpire Mike Burns raised his finger immediately, and Kohli chose not to review the decision after a brief discussion with his batting partner. Despite losing two senior batters early, India recovered well to complete a comfortable six-wicket victory.

"Best Reaction Ever" — Fans flood timeline after Karthik's 'Nataraj' pose

Dinesh Karthik's gesture of showing Lord Shiva's Nataraj image on his phone during the first ODI between England and India quickly went viral on social media. Fans praised the former India wicketkeeper for the unique reaction, with many calling it the "best reaction ever." The clip was widely shared across social media platforms as viewers appreciated the reference to Rohit Sharma's stylish Nataraja shot.

Many users applauded Karthik's cricket knowledge and his creative way of explaining the shot during commentary. The moment became one of the biggest talking points of the match, with fans enjoying both Rohit's stroke and Karthik's humorous yet insightful reaction. Here is how the players reacted on X:

Meanwhile, India began the three-match ODI series with a convincing six-wicket win over England at Edgbaston. Chasing 259, captain Shubman Gill scored a composed 80 before retiring hurt with cramps, while Axar Patel and Washington Sundar guided India home with an unbeaten century partnership. The victory also marked India's first win of the ongoing tour of the United Kingdom.