Rohit Sharma's Defiant Hundred In Vain As England Clinch ODI Series 2-1

With his back against the wall and an illustrious career under scrutiny, Rohit Sharma answered his critics in trademark fashion, producing one of the finest hundreds of his career.

But his valiant effort wasn’t enough to avert a 27-run loss to England in the third ODI at Lord’s on Sunday, July 19, as India slumped to a 1-2 series defeat.

Despite Rohit’s magnificent 138, skipper Shubman Gill’s 77 and ace batter Virat Kohli’s 74, India fell short in their chase, finishing on 360/7 in pursuit of a daunting 388-run target.

England’s imposing total was built around Ben Duckett’s career-best 142 and Jacob Bethell’s 91.

The 13-ball 41 from Jos Buttler proved to be the decisive factor as England scored 82 in their last five overs.

With speculation mounting

that the selectors and head coach were ready to move on from him, the 39-year-old former India skipper entered the series decider under immense pressure.

Rohit walked onto the hallowed turf at Lord’s with two clear objectives: to lead India to a series win and to answer the growing speculation surrounding his future, which had cast an unnecessary shadow over his illustrious career.

Rohit didn’t raise his bat after bringing up his 34th ODI hundred, the first by an Indian batter at Lord’s. Nor did he acknowledge the standing ovation from the Members’ Balcony after his gritty 110-ball innings, a knock crafted with determination, resilience and sheer effort.

If it indeed turned out to be his final ODI on English soil, it would be remembered as the day an ageing great responded with grit and class when his place in the team was under intense scrutiny.

A stand of 147 with captain Gill and 113 with his old pal Kohli raised visions of an improbable win.

Rohit’s sublime innings featured 17 fours and five sixes. Three of those maximums came off Josh Tongue, a trademark pull, one lofted straight down the ground and another over wide long-on.

He dispatched Sam Curran as well, who finished with figures of 4/75 from his 10 overs and emerged as England’s bowling hero, for a commanding pulled six.

Curran’s pace off balls at the death accounted for Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Kohli in a space of seven balls to end any hopes that India would have harboured.

Curran got able support from left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell (1/49 in 7 overs), a luxury India never had by playing a lone spinner in Axar Patel.

While India lost the series, one thing is for sure: neither Rohit nor Kohli will be going anywhere until the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.

On the day, Gambhir and Gill’s planning went haywire and playing four pacers with a combined experience of 51 matches backfired.

Ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s absence because of an impact injury on his left knee was a blow for India.

India’s four-man pace attack of Prasidh Krishna (2/69 in 10 overs), Arshdeep Singh (0/72 in 10), Prince Yadav (1/79 in 10) and Gurnoor Brar (0/97 in 10) struggled to contain England’s in-form batting unit, lacking the experience and execution needed to trouble the hosts.

Duckett and Bethell were exceptional with both their planning and execution. England scored a steady 58 runs in the first 10 overs of the batting powerplay, but took control between the 11th and 30th overs, dismantling India’s bowling attack with a relentless assault.

With Gambhir having picked Kuldeep Yadav in just 38 of India’s 103 games across formats since taking charge in 2024, the absence of a second frontline spinner alongside Axar Patel (0/61 in 10 overs) proved costly for the visitors.

Duckett’s superb innings included 18 boundaries and a six, while Bethell, who looked the more fluent of the two early on, struck 11 fours and a maximum before holing out in the deep off Prasidh Krishna.

Ace England batter Joe Root continued his golden run of form with an unbeaten 74 off just 48 deliveries, registering his third fifty of the series and powering England beyond the 350-run mark.

Jos Buttler then added the finishing touches with a blistering 41* off 13 balls, while Gurnoor Brar endured a harsh lesson in international cricket, conceding 97 runs in his 10 overs.

India’s problems started early as rookie pacer Prince Yadav, bowling from the famous Lord’s slope, struggled to find the right length. Jacob Bethell capitalised, pulling him for a six over deep midwicket before driving him through the gap between midwicket and mid-on for a four.

The rusty Arshdeep Singh did not hold his line while Prasidh Krishna, despite beating Bethell’s bat on several occasions, also bowled the odd loose ball.

Bethell brought up his fifty off 51 deliveries as England crossed the 100-run mark in the 16th over. By then, the Indian bowlers had already leaked 15 fours, with inconsistent lines permitting the opening pair to settle in and dictate terms.

In all, they conceded 42 fours and six sixes.

It reinforced a familiar reality as well: India’s pace attack looks far more threatening when ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah is operating from one end. Without him, the other quicks have struggled to maintain the same level of effectiveness, a pattern that was evident in the T20Is and resurfaced in the ODI series as well.

(With PTI Inputs)