Cuttack: The Barabati Stadium was packed to the rafters with a crowd of 45,000.
They had their wishes fulfilled as Team India cruised to a four-wicket win in the second ODI on Sunday night to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series against England.
The cricket-crazy public of Odisha was thrilled to watch the return to form of ‘Hitman’ Rohit Sharma, who scored a sublime 119 off 90 balls (12×4, 7×6) as the home team overhauled England’s 304 in 44.3 overs losing six wickets.
It was a very special knock for Rohit as he scored an international hundred after nine months and an ODI ton after 16 months. His 32nd ODI ton put Rohit in third place in century-scorers’ list, behind fellow-Indians Virat Kohli (50) and Sachin Tendulkar (49).
The half-hour halt in play early in the Indian innings, due to a floodlight tower malfunctioning, was forgotten as the men in blue chased down a 300-plus target with ease and style.
Shubman Gill, back as Rohit’s opening partner, followed up his classy 87 in the first ODI with an elegant 60 as he and his captain put on their sixth century partnership at the top.
Shreyas Iyer (44) and Axar Patel (41*) also got among the runs again, with only Virat Kohli (5) missing out.
England had earlier been bowled out for 304 after threatening to reach somewhere around 350 when they were 219/3 with 12 overs left.
Ravindra Jadeja was the standout bowler, bagging 3/35 in 10 overs.
India have now won 14 of their 18 ODIs at Barabati, including 4 out of 6 against England.
Brief Scores
England 304 in 49.5 overs (Joe Root 69, Ben Duckett 65, Liam Livingstone 41; Ravindra Jadeja 3/35).
India 308/6 in 44.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 119, Shubman Gill 60, Shreyas Iyer 44, Axar Patel 41*; Jamie Overton 2/27).
Result: India won by 4 wickets.
Man of the Match: Rohit Sharma
Series position: India lead 2-0
Final ODI: Feb 12 at Narendra Modi Stadium (Motera, Ahmedabad).
