Rohit Sharma Shines with a Stunning Century in Second ODI Against England
India’s captain Rohit Sharma made a spectacular comeback, scoring an impressive century during the second ODI against England on Sunday, February 9, at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. This marked Rohit’s first ODI hundred since October 11, 2023, and showcased the form that fans know and love.
Rohit reached the milestone in just 76 balls, responding to his critics with an electrifying performance. His innings featured a whopping 12 fours and seven sixes, providing a much-needed boost to his supporters who stood by him through a tough phase in India’s recent Test series.
The star opener scored his first fifty in international cricket after 12 innings, reaching the half-century mark in just 30 balls. He looked to be in top form as he hit 80 runs off 56 balls, taking only an additional 20 balls to complete his century. He achieved this feat by using his footwork effectively against Adil Rashid and smashing a huge six over long-off.
This was the second-fastest century of Rohit’s career, following his remarkable 63-ball century against Afghanistan in 2023. He began his innings cautiously, scoring just one run off the first six balls before finding his rhythm against Gus Atkinson with a boundary. Not long after, he hit a six that sent the enthusiastic crowd into cheers.
Rohit’s confidence grew as he continued to dominate the bowlers. He lit up the stadium with a stunning lofted cover drive against Saqib Mahmood, hitting another effortless six. There was a brief delay in play due to a floodlight issue, but it did not distract the Indian captain, who soon added another boundary against Mahmood once play resumed.
He faced a close lbw call against Mark Wood but the on-field decision went in his favor after a review. Rohit then made his intentions clear, hitting Wood’s next ball for six over long-on, bringing his fifty up with a series of boundaries and acknowledging the crowd’s cheers.
Eventually, Rohit was dismissed for 119 runs off 90 balls while attempting to go for another big shot against Liam Livingstone. The crowd applauded him warmly as he made his way back to the pavilion, celebrating a fantastic innings that marked a significant turnaround for the captain ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy.
