Rohit Sharma got back to form by smashing a scintillating hundred (119) in the second ODI against England in Cuttack, which enabled India to win the match by four wickets and clinch the series 2-0. It was a typical Rohit special innings, which oozed class and elegance galore. The India skipper made the run of 305 look like a walk in the park. The right-hand batter killed the game in the power play itself by racing away to a 30-ball fifty.
Giving him company was vice-captain Shubnam Gill, who scored a breezy 52-ball 60. Rohit and Gill put on 136-run-stand for the first wicket and took the game away from England. The visitors' skipper Jos Buttler used several bowlers to break the first wicket stand, but he could only see his bowlers being taken to the cleaners instead. By the time England managed to break the first wicket stand, India already had half the game in the pocket.
Gill's departure brought Kohli to the crease, but the star batter could only manage five runs. Nonetheless, Rohit batted like a dream, and with some help of breezy cameos by Shreyas Iyer (44) and Axar Patel (41), India won the match with five overs remaining.
IND vs ENG 2nd ODI highlights: Ravindra Jadeja's economical bowling sets up game for India
Earlier in the day, England got off to a flier as openers Ben Duckett (65) and Phil Salt (26) raced to an 81-run stand inside the first power play. However, Salt could not kick on and score a big score. The introduction of India's spin twins Ravindra Jadeja (3/35) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/54) halted England's run-scoring. First, Jadeja got rid of Duckket, and later did not allow Joe Root and Harry Brook to break free. The left-arm spinner bowled tight lines and managed to strangulate England's middle-order batters.
If not for Liam Livingstone's late cameo (41), England could have not even crossed 300. Nonetheless, in the end, 304 was also not enough, as India's batters finished the run chase in canter. This series is also for England in India seventh in a row in the last 20 years. It was also their ninth loss in ten white--ball formats in the last ten years.
