Under pressure from questions about his form and mounting retirement speculations, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma silenced critics with a vintage century, guiding India to a commanding four-wicket victory over England in the second ODI on Sunday (Feb 9). The win secured the series for India with an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of the final match in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

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Opting to bat first on a batting-friendly surface, England were bowled out for 304 in 49.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3/35) continued his dominance over the visitors, picking up crucial wickets to stall their momentum.

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The 37-year-old Indian skipper made the chase look effortless, returning to his World Cup 2023 best with impeccable timing and graceful strokeplay. His 90-ball 119, featuring seven sixes and 12 fours, marked his 32nd ODI century and came at a crucial time with the Champions Trophy less than two weeks away.

Rohit’s masterclass set the foundation for India’s chase as they reached the target in 44.3 overs. Shubman Gill provided solid support with a fluent 60 off 52 balls (9x4, 1x6) in a 136-run opening stand, their sixth century partnership together.

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Virat Kohli, returning from a knee injury, fell cheaply for 5, edging an Adil Rashid leg-break. Rashid has now dismissed Kohli four times in ODIs. Rohit then built a 70-run stand with Shreyas Iyer (44) before miscuing a full toss, with Rashid taking a fine running catch. Iyer was later run out, while KL Rahul (10) and Hardik Pandya (10) also failed to convert starts.

However, with no run-rate pressure, Axar Patel (41 not out) and Jadeja (11 not out) ensured a smooth finish, sealing the win with 33 balls to spare.

Rohit surpasses Rahul Dravid

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Rohit’s knock also saw him surpass Rahul Dravid (10,889 runs) to enter the top-10 list of ODI run-scorers. He now requires just 13 runs to reach 11,000 ODI runs. His innings featured exquisite pull shots, stylish cuts, and even a reverse sweep off Rashid, underscoring his dominance.

Setting the tone early, Rohit charged down to Gus Atkinson for a boundary before flicking a six over mid-wicket with signature elegance. Against Saqib Mahmood, he displayed finesse with a lofted six over cover. A 35-minute floodlight failure at 29 did not disrupt his momentum; he resumed with the same intensity, dispatching Mahmood and Mark Wood’s deliveries with precision.

Luck also played its part—on 36, he survived an LBW call against Wood on the umpire’s call. Responding in style, he sent the next ball over mid-on for a six. His fifty came off 30 balls, and he reached his hundred in just 76 deliveries, his second-fastest in ODIs after a 63-ball century against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup.

Earlier, Jadeja’s 3/35 proved instrumental in restricting England to 304. He dismissed Ben Duckett (65 off 56 balls) and Joe Root (69 off 72 balls) just when England looked set for a 330-plus total. At 200/3 in 35 overs, England were in a strong position, but Jadeja’s disciplined bowling curbed their momentum.

England’s total would have been lower if not for Liam Livingstone’s brisk 41 off 32 balls (2x4, 2x6) and Adil Rashid’s quick 14 off five balls, which included three consecutive boundaries off Mohammed Shami. However, three late run-outs in the final overs saw them bowled out with one ball to spare—304 being the lowest total at Barabati Stadium since 2011, where 350-plus scores have been the norm.

Jadeja’s tactical brilliance was evident as he outfoxed Duckett with a widish delivery, luring him into a miscue to mid-on. He then removed Root for the fifth time in ODIs, enticing him into a lofted shot that landed straight into Kohli’s hands at deep extra cover. His final wicket came with the dismissal of Jamie Overton, who skied a catch to Gill at cover.

Shubman Gill was outstanding in the field, taking three catches. While India had some lapses, including burning two reviews against Root off debutant mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy (1/54), they controlled the innings well.

Harshit Rana (1/62 in 9 overs) was expensive, conceding 14 runs in two overs as Duckett capitalized on his pace. Despite some costly overs, India’s bowlers ensured England fell short of an imposing total.

With a series-clinching victory and Rohit’s return to form, India will look to carry this momentum into the final ODI and beyond into the Champions Trophy.

(With inputs from agencies)