India’s captain Rohit Sharma lit up Cuttack with a breathtaking century, smashing seven sixes as India chased down England’s 305-run target with ease in the second ODI. His masterful knock sealed India’s victory and brought him closer to an elite ODI milestone.
Closing in on Afridi’s Record
With his latest fireworks, Rohit now has 338 career ODI sixes, just 13 short of Shahid Afridi’s record of 351. His red-hot form ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy couldn’t be better timed.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar even joked on commentary:
“If Rohit Sharma narrows the gap, Shahid Afridi might just be tempted to come out of retirement.”
A Blistering Knock
The 37-year-old raced to a 30-ball half-century, showing the attacking intent that made him the second-highest run-scorer of the 2023 World Cup. He notched up his 32nd ODI century, finishing with 119 off 90 balls.
However, his dismissal left him 13 runs short of becoming the fourth Indian to reach 11,000 ODI runs.
Gill Shines, Kohli Struggles
Shubman Gill continued his fine form, scoring back-to-back half-centuries. As vice-captain for the Champions Trophy, he has cemented his place at the top of the order.
Virat Kohli, returning after a knee issue, had a rough outing. He managed only five runs, falling early and missing out on an impact innings.
England’s Improved Effort Falls Short
Opting to bat first, England showed improvement from their first ODI struggles. Joe Root (69) and Ben Duckett (65) provided stability, while Liam Livingstone (41 off 32) added a late flourish.
Despite their 304-run total, England couldn’t match India’s batting firepower.
India’s Middle Order Steps Up
Though quick wickets fell, India comfortably chased the target with 5.3 overs to spare. Shreyas Iyer (44) and Axar Patel (41) played crucial roles, with Axar impressing in his new middle-order role.
Bowlers Deliver Again
On the bowling front, Ravindra Jadeja was India’s standout, taking three crucial wickets. Varun Chakravarthy, making his ODI debut, bowled tightly and took a wicket, showing promise.
India’s Champions Trophy Preparations on Track
With this dominant win, India sealed the series 2-0, reinforcing their status as one of the favorites for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
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