India vs England 2nd ODI : Rohit Sharma’s stunning century set India on course for a dominant victory in the 2nd ODI, despite England posting a challenging target of 305. The hosts needed just 30 runs in the final 10 overs but suffered a late collapse, losing wickets in the 40th and 41st overs. However, Ravindra Jadeja sealed the win with a boundary, securing a four-wicket victory and clinching the series with a 2-0 lead.
Coming into the match out of form, Rohit silenced his critics with a masterclass in Cuttack. The Indian captain smashed his 32nd ODI century in just 76 balls, striking seven sixes and nine fours. He reached his hundred in style, hitting two consecutive boundaries off the last two balls of the over.
Rohit and Shubman Gill provided a flying start, stitching together a dominant 136-run opening stand off just 100 balls. Gill departed for 60 off 52, falling to a pinpoint yorker from Jamie Overton. Rohit, unfazed, continued his onslaught, but India hoped Virat Kohli could also capitalize. However, Kohli fell to a brilliant delivery from Adil Rashid, bringing in the in-form Shreyas Iyer.
Rohit reached his fifty in just 30 balls and looked set for a massive score before a floodlight failure disrupted play. At the time of the interruption, India was cruising at 48/0 in 6.1 overs, with Rohit on 29 off 18 balls and Gill on 17 off 19. The stoppage came after the sixth over, with lights flickering on and off multiple times before play resumed.
Earlier, England was bowled out for 304 in 49.5 overs. They had a solid foundation but suffered a late collapse. Harry Brook and Joe Root dominated the middle overs before Jos Buttler joined Root for another threatening stand. However, both partnerships ended with dismissals at crucial junctures.
Brook and Root countered India’s spinners effectively, forcing Rohit to bring back Harshit Rana. Brook initially looked comfortable but was eventually dismissed after a sharp catch by Gill, ending a 66-run partnership. Buttler and Root then put on a 51-run stand before Hardik Pandya struck, removing the England captain against the run of play. Root remained unbeaten, providing England a solid base.
England’s innings started strongly, with openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett adding 81 runs in just 65 balls. Salt raced to 51 off 37 before debutant Varun Chakravarthy provided the breakthrough. Duckett also notched up his half-century in just 36 balls.
At the toss, Jos Buttler opted to bat first. Varun Chakravarthy made his debut, replacing Kuldeep Yadav, becoming India’s second-oldest debutant. Rohit also announced Virat Kohli’s return to the XI, drawing huge cheers from the Cuttack crowd. Yashasvi Jaiswal made way, while Shreyas Iyer retained his place after an impressive performance in the series opener.
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