Cuttack: Rohit Sharma is back to his imperious best.
The jam-packed Barabati Stadium was treated to a vintage Rohit innings (119 off 90 balls, 12×4, 7×6) as the Indian skipper scored his 32nd ODI century in the second match against England here on Sunday evening.
Chasing 305 to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series, India were cruising at 220/3 after the 30th over.
Rohit and Shubman Gill put on 136 eye-catching runs for the opening wicket. The openers did not let a half-hour stoppage due to a malfunctioning floodlight tower, treating pacers Saqib Mahmood, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood and Jamie Overton as well as leg-spinner Adil Rashid with contempt.
Gill was dismissed for a delightful 60 and Virat Kohli fell for 5, but Rohit continued in his merry ways.
Rohit, whose place in the playing XI had been questioned by many following a string of low scores in all formats of the game, brought up his 50 in 30 balls and reached his 100 off 76 deliveries with a straight six off Rashid.
Watch the moment when he reached 100:
What a way to get to the HUNDRED! 🤩
A treat for the fans in Cuttack to witness Captain Rohit Sharma at his best 👌👌
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The India captain’s classy knock was studded with 9 fours and 7 sixes.
This was Rohit’s first international century in 11 months, after the 103 that he scored in the Dharamsala Test against England in March 2024.
Shreyas Iyer (batting 30) was joined by Axar Patel after Rohit holed out to Liam Livingstone.