Although it was unable to stop a 27-run loss to England in the third ODI, Rohit Sharma hushed his detractors in the only manner he could by hitting one of his most renowned hundreds in recent memory.
In the third and final One-Day International at Lord’s on Sunday, England defeated India by 27 runs to clinch the three-match series 2-1, despite Rohit Sharma returning to the running with a scorching century.
In response to England’s enormous score of 387 for 3, India managed to end on 360 for 7 despite Rohit’s exciting 138 off 110 balls, which featured 17 fours and five sixes.
Virat Kohli (74) and Shubman Gill (77) both scored half-centuries, but Sam Curran’s deft change of pace in the last overs ended India’s aspirations with game-changing figures of 4 for 75 in 10 overs.
India’s Bowlers Face Challenges
Earlier, England amassed a massive 387 for 3 thanks to a 192-run opening partnership between the centurion and Jacob Bethell. Ben Duckett made mincemeat of an inexperienced Indian bowling attack with a fantastic 141.
India was undoubtedly hurt by Jasprit Bumrah’s absence owing to an impact injury to his left knee, and the visitors found this to be telling.
With a combined experience of 51 ODIs, the four-pronged pace attack—Prasidh Krishna (2/69 in 10 overs), Arshdeep Singh (0/72 in 10 overs), Prince Yadav (1/79 in 10 overs), and Gurnoor Brar (0/97 in 10 overs)—lacked both technique and experience against an effective batting lineup.
In terms of strategy and performance, Duckett and Bethell (91 off 93 balls) were outstanding. The first ten overs of the batting powerplay produced 58 runs, but between overs 11 and 30, they literally drove the bowlers ragged.
The absence of a second spinner except Axar Patel (0/61 in 10 overs) did affect India, since head coach Gautam Gambhir has only used Kuldeep Yadav in 38 of 103 games (across three formats) since his appointment.
Bethell and Duckett’s Powerful Collaboration
Bethell, who initially appeared to be more fluid, blasted 11 fours and a six before being caught in the deep off Prasidh Krishna’s bowling, while Duckett hit 18 boundaries aside from a six.
The total surpassed 350 runs as Joe Root (74 no off 48 balls) extended his brilliant run of form with another half-century, his third in three games.
Going for over 100 runs, Jos Buttler (41 no off 13 balls) joined in the fun as Brar received a severe lesson in international cricket.
India’s Bowling Problems Persist
Even though Prasidh Krishna beat Bethell’s bat several times, he also bowled the occasional wayward delivery, and the rusty Arshdeep Singh failed to keep his line.
But England completed the team total of 100 by the sixteenth over, and Bethell did well to finish his half-century off 51 balls. The opening combination was able to easily establish a rhythm since the Indian bowlers had already given up 15 boundaries by that point and the lines were terribly incorrect. They gave up six sixes and forty-two boundaries.
It also proved that when the excellent Bumrah is at work at one end, all the other Indian pacers seem fine, and that efficacy disappears when he is not. That was evident in both the T20Is and the ODIs.
Going into the third and final game, the 39-year-old former captain was under tremendous strain because to rumours that selectors and the head coach were prepared to move on from Rohit.
Winning a series for India and preserving his reputation, which was being damaged by persistent rumours from some media outlets, were Rohit’s two goals when he entered the sacred grounds of Lord’s.
Sweat, pain, and heart were woven into Rohit’s Lord’s tonne.
After reaching his 34th ODI century—the first by an Indian batsman at Lord’s—he did not lift his bat. After a 110-ball knock embroidered with heart, agony, and sweat, he also failed to accept the standing ovation from the suits at the Members’ Balcony.
It was the final ODI he played in England, and for a long time, people spoke about how an old great showed resilience when the establishment made him feel unwelcome.
A stand of 113 with his old friend Kohli and 147 with captain Gill increased hopes of an unlikely triumph.
Rohit scored five sixes and seventeen boundaries, including three against Josh Tongue, a draw, one down the ground, and one wide off long-on. Sam Curran (4/75 in 10 overs), who turned out to be England’s bowling hero, pulled six.
Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, and Kohli were all dismissed by Curran’s rapid rate of deliveries at the end, ending any chances that India might have had.
Jacob Bethell, a left-arm spinner, provided Curran with adequate support (1/49 in 7 overs), a luxury India never had by using Axar Patel as their lone spinner.
Even though India lost the series, one thing is certain: neither Kohli nor Rohit will be leaving till the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
