Captain Rohit Sharma led from the front as India defeated England by four wickets in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Sunday. This is India's seventh successive bilateral ODI series win against England.
Rohit Sharma (119, 90b, 12x4, 7x6), who struck his 32nd hundred in ODIs, helped India mow down the target of 305. The hosts made 308 for six in 44.3 overs. Rohit also reached 49 international centuries to move past Rahul Dravid's count of 48.
The flick first and then the loft! 🤩
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 9, 2025
Captain Rohit Sharma gets going in Cuttack in style! 💥
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"Hitman" was also involved in a deflating 136-run stand with his opening partner Shubman Gill (60, 52, 9x4, 1x6), the sixth such occasion of them engaging a 100-plus alliance.
Earlier, veteran batter Joe Root (69, 72b, 6x4) and opener Ben Duckett (65, 56b, 10x4) scored fifties to lead England made 304 all out. Electing to bat, England laid a solid foundation with contributions from Duckett, Root, and skipper Jos Buttler (34 off 35 balls).
For India, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3/35) was the most successful bowler. At 200/3 in 35 overs, England seemed on course for a 330-plus total, but Jadeja's disciplined bowling stifled their momentum, denying them the extra 15-20 runs.
England would have struggled to reach 300 if not for Liam Livingstone's brisk 41 off 32 balls (2x4, 2x6) and Adil Rashid's explosive five-ball 14, which included three consecutive boundaries off Mohammed Shami.
However, three run-outs in the final couple of overs saw them bowled out with a delivery to spare.
Innings Break!
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 9, 2025
3⃣ wickets for Ravindra Jadeja
1⃣ wicket each for Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Hardik Pandya & Mohd. Shami
Target 🎯 for #TeamIndia - 305
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This is in fact the lowest total at Barabati Stadium since 2011 as 350-plus has been the average first innings score since then.
Jadeja's tactical awareness first undid Duckett, tempting him with a widish delivery out of his hitting arc which the southpaw miscued straight to mid-on.
Jadeja then removed Root for the fifth time in ODIs, slowing it down and tossing it up, only for Root to loft it straight to Kohli at deep extra cover.
Jadeja capped off his spell with a final-ball dismissal of Jamie Overton, who tried to create room but ended up skying it to Shubman Gill at cover.
