Rohit Sharma rolled back the years at Lord’s. Amid constant discussions about his potential retirement from ODI and international cricket, the veteran opener put on a vintage display in the India vs England 3rd ODI. With the series on the line and his non-performance, Rohit was under pressure.
Rohit Sharma responds to criticism with 34th ODI hundred
It was rumoured that the team management and selection wanted to move on. They didn’t wish to back a 39-year-old and wanted to blood in Yashasvi Jaiswal with about 15 months left for the ODI World Cup 2027. Although the BCCI put the rumours to bed, Rohit was still under pressure.
And how did he respond? With a 34th ODI hundred while chasing a mammoth total of 388. The surface wasn’t easy, with inconsistent bounce and some nip off the surface. Despite the tricky conditions, Rohit smashed his century in just 84 balls. All the critics have been silenced. Now, Rohit can continue, for as long as he and his form warrant.
Vintage knock in tricky conditions
Although Rohit took strike against Jofra Archer in the first over, he had faced just 5 balls when the 5th over ended. Since Archer and Gus Atkinson were bowling well, he charged the latter in the 6th over and escaped as the edge flew over the slips. Rohit hadn’t been on strike much, and when Josh Tongue arrived to bowl his first, he decided to take him down.
Tongue bowled a half-volley down the leg, and Rohit just guided the ball to the fine leg boundary. Rohit then pulled out his favourite pull shot and took him for a four and a six. He raced to 23 off 17, and India were on track after England had kept things tight as the surface aided the bowlers. Even in-form Shubman Gill had to check himself.
India finished the powerplay 49/0, and Rohit had managed to score a run-a-ball 24. The Men in Blue would’ve probably wanted more runs on the board, but not losing a wicket was essential. Unlike his last two innings, Rohit was showing more intent. Something that wasn’t visible at Edgbaston or Cardiff.
He was willing to take Tongue on and even pulled out the sweep against Sam Curran post the powerplay. The left-arm pacer banged the ball short, and Rohit didn’t need an invitation to pull him. For the next few overs, Gill hogged the strike again, and Rohit kept rotating the strike.
The surface didn’t ease out, and Rohit decided to take chances in the 21st over, taking the best English bowler, Atkinson, on. He paddled and scooped the pacer to register his 63rd ODI half-century in 50 balls. In the next two overs, he upped the ante again. He took Adil Rashid and Archer on and smashed 3 fours.
Most ODI hundreds in a visiting country
- 8 – Rohit Sharma in England
- 7 – Sachin Tendulkar in UAE
- 7 – Saeed Anwar in UAE
- 7 – AB de Villiers in India
- 7 – Quinton de Kock in India
He slowed down just a touch after Gill departed in the 25th over. But found his groove quickly as Virat Kohli started strong. Once again, he took Tongue down. He smashed two sixes in front of the wicket in the 29th over, and India once again wrestled back control. With a lovely sweep to Rashid, Rohit brought up his hundred, and Lord’s stood up on its feet for the ODI legend.
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