Rohit Sharma’s century guides India to four-wicket win in second ODI against England

Rohit Sharma silenced his critics by leading India to an unassailable series lead against England, courtesy of his 119 runs in the second ODI, helping India chase down 305 and take a 2-0 lead in the series in Cuttack.

England set a target of 305 after a solid but unremarkable batting display, with seven players reaching double figures but none going on to play a big knock. Joe Root top-scored for England with 69 off 72 balls. However, it was Rohit’s aggressive and calculated knock that made the chase look far less daunting. His 119 runs came from just 90 balls, including 12 fours and seven sixes, as he set the tone for India’s successful chase.

Rohit reached his century with a spectacular six off Adil Rashid, bringing up his 32nd ODI century. However, he fell when India still needed 85 runs for victory, caught by midwicket after a mix-up with a Liam Livingstone full toss. Despite a brief wobble, where India lost three wickets in five overs, Axar Patel held his nerve, scoring an unbeaten 41 from 43 balls to guide India to victory with 33 balls to spare.

The chase had its moments of tension, including a 40-minute delay due to a floodlight failure in the seventh over, but Rohit and his team kept their composure. Ravindra Jadeja, who had been crucial with the ball earlier, drove the winning boundary to seal the victory.

This performance marked Rohit's return to form after a quiet start to the series. His previous good ODI innings was in the World Cup final in November 2023, where he was instrumental in India’s run to the final with 597 runs. Despite a few struggles early in his innings, Rohit’s masterful hitting quickly silenced the critics, especially when he smashed Mark Wood for a six after a scare with a knee-roll decision.

Shubman Gill also played a crucial role, scoring a quick-fire 60 off 52 balls, and was dismissed just after the 100-run partnership with Rohit. Virat Kohli, who was back in the team after a knee injury, couldn’t make much of an impact, getting out for just 5 runs.

For England, their batting woes continued. Despite an opening stand of 81 runs between Ben Duckett and Phil Salt, they collapsed from a strong position to finish with just 304 runs. England lost their final seven wickets for just 85 runs, with India’s spinners, especially Jadeja, doing the damage. Jadeja finished with figures of 3 for 35, while the other spinners kept the pressure on.

Liam Livingstone’s late 41 runs and Adil Rashid’s quick-fire 14 runs were the only bright spots in the latter stages, but their efforts were not enough to stop the Indian charge. England’s inability to build on their strong start and their struggle against India’s spinners were key factors in their downfall.

India’s fielding also made a significant impact, with several crucial stops, although there were missed chances in the deep, including a dropped catch by Axar Patel. Despite this, India’s bowlers and fielders combined effectively to close out England’s innings with minimal damage.

With the series now 2-0 in India’s favor, the third ODI will be played in Ahmedabad on February 12th, Wednesday.