New Delhi: Amidst mounting questions about his form and speculation surrounding his retirement, captain Rohit Sharma responded in style, delivering a classic 32nd century to steer India to a commanding four-wicket win over England in the second ODI on Sunday. After opting to bat, England posted a total of 304 in 49.5 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja (3/35) once again being a thorn in their side.
Rohit, 37, showcased his World Cup 2023 form, playing a masterful 90-ball knock of 119. His flawless timing and effortless stroke play included seven sixes and 12 boundaries, setting India on course for victory. The chase was completed in 44.3 overs, giving India an unassailable 2-0 lead heading into the final ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Shubman Gill also contributed with a smooth 60 off 52 balls (9 fours, 1 six), but his knock seemed to take a backseat to Rohit’s brilliance during their impressive opening partnership of 136 runs – their sixth century-plus stand together. After missing the Nagpur ODI due to a swollen knee, Virat Kohli (5) was dismissed cheaply, caught behind off an Adil Rashid leg-spinner. Rashid has now dismissed Kohli four times in ODIs.
Rohit Sharma then added 70 runs with Shreyas Iyer (44) before he was dismissed off a full toss, with Rashid making a superb catch running backward. Iyer was soon run out, while KL Rahul (10) and Hardik Pandya (10) followed suit with quick dismissals. However, the required run rate was never an issue, and Axar Patel (41 not out) held his ground while partnering with Ravindra Jadeja (11 not out) to complete the chase with 33 balls to spare.
Rohit’s innings also saw him surpass Rahul Dravid’s total of 10,889 runs, moving into the top-10 list of ODI run-scorers. He now needs 13 more runs to reach 11,000 ODI runs. His shot selection was flawless, with precise pulls, stylish cuts, and no mishits. One highlight was a reverse sweep off Rashid, showcasing his dominance.
Rohit signalled his intent early, charging Gus Atkinson for a boundary, and effortlessly flicking a six over mid-wicket. Against Saqib Mahmood, he dispatched a stunning cover drive for six, looking back to his best. Despite a 35-minute floodlight failure when he was on 29, his rhythm remained intact. After the break, he resumed with flair, gliding Mahmood for another boundary and taking on Mark Wood’s pace. A lucky moment came on 36 when an LBW call was overturned, and Rohit responded immediately with a six. He brought up his fifty in just 30 balls, and a century in 76 balls, smacking Rashid over long-off, his first ton in 14 innings and second-fastest.
Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja was outstanding with the ball, taking 3/35 and continuing his dominance over English batters. His wickets of Ben Duckett (65) and Joe Root (69) kept England from building on their strong start. Despite solid contributions from Duckett, Root, and captain Jos Buttler (34), England’s total of 304 fell short, especially after Jadeja’s key breakthroughs. At 200/3 in 35 overs, England appeared set for a larger total, but Jadeja’s control and the loss of momentum prevented them from crossing 320.
Liam Livingstone’s quick 41 off 32 balls and Adil Rashid’s cameo (14 off 5 balls) added some fireworks, but three run-outs in the final overs saw them bowled out for 304, the lowest total at Barabati since 2011. Jadeja’s tactical bowling was key, as he trapped Duckett with a wide delivery that went straight to mid-on, then removed Root with a cleverly tossed ball that Kohli caught at deep extra cover. Jadeja finished his spell by dismissing Jamie Overton, caught by Shubman Gill at cover.
Shubman Gill was exceptional in the field, taking three crucial catches, while India had some misjudgments, including wasting two reviews against Root off Varun Chakravarthy, who debuted with figures of 1/54. Harshit Rana (1/62 in 9 overs) was expensive, with Duckett capitalizing on his pace to find gaps.
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