The talk around retirement has been loudest this week. Rohit Sharma’s future has been tossed up in the air despite the BCCI’s backtracking. However, when he steps onto the Lord’s Cricket Ground for the series-deciding finale, all that will matter will be runs.
Rohit didn’t look completely at ease in Cardiff during the second ODI. The pitch was a bit two-paced, and getting the timing right was a struggle for most of the innings. Lord’s should be different. It has never been called a flat batting track, but it usually plays truer than Cardiff. Once you get through the new ball, stroke-makers generally get a lot more value for their shots there.
The series is 1-1 going into the decider, so India will be hoping the conditions let Rohit, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill bat with a bit more freedom in what is shaping up to be a big game.
Lord’s Cricket Ground pitch report for IND vs ENG 3rd ODI
Lord’s has traditionally been fast bowlers’ paradise. Pacers have accounted for over 76% of the wickets in ODI cricket at the venue, with the famous slope often creating awkward angles for batters, especially during the first hour.
However, unlike the surface in Cardiff, the pitch at Lord’s is expected to carry the ball through more consistently. But that said, the Lord’s pitch got an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating during a Test between New Zealand and England. Also, what we saw at the ICC Women’s 2026 T20 World Cup final, the pitch had not much for batting. But in this ODI, you are likely to get a better surface.
There’s one stat captains won’t be able to ignore at Lord’s. Chasing here has got really tough. The pitch tends to slow up as the match goes on, and batting gets even harder once the lights are on. No team has actually chased down a total in an ODI at this ground since 2017.
That puts a lot of weight on winning the toss and batting first. That could suit Rohit Sharma. His first test will be against Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson with the new ball. But if he sees that off, Lord’s is the kind of ground where he can get back to what he does best. Once he’s set, the pull shots and those lofted drives down the ground come back into play.
Lord’s ODI record
| Criteria | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 71 |
| Won batting first | 35 |
| Won batting second | 32 |
| Tied/No Result | 3/1 |
| Average 1st innings score | 226 |
| Average 2nd innings score | 196 |
| Average run rate | 4.8 |
| Wickets by pacers | 76.51% |
| Wickets by spinners | 22.86% |
| Bowling Type | Pace | Spin |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 5 | 5 |
| Wickets | 58 | 29 |
| Best Figures | 6/24 | 4/47 |
| Economy | 5.45 | 6.09 |
| Strike Rate | 30.8 | 26.4 |
| Four-wicket hauls | 2 | 3 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 2 | 0 |
| Dot Ball % | 56.0 | 45.4 |
India’s record at the Home of Cricket is respectable. They have won four of their nine ODIs at Lord’s, with the most memorable being the 1983 World Cup final. Their last ODI victory at the venue, though, came way back in 2004, making Sunday’s contest another opportunity to end a long wait.
London weather report for IND vs ENG 3rd ODI
It’s another great news that the weather forecast is clear for the day. According to AccuWeather, London is expected to enjoy pleasant conditions with a maximum temperature of around 23°C. The probability of rain is just 1%, meaning fans should get a full 100-over contest without interruptions.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 23°C |
| Wind | North at 13 km/h |
| Chance of Rain | 1% |
| Cloud Cover | 30% |
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