India continued their domination over England with a clinical four-wicket victory in the second One Day International (ODI) at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, sealing the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead. While England showed resilience with the bat for the first time on this tour, their total proved insufficient on a wicket that favored strokeplay. With just one game left before the ICC Champions Trophy, India will look to maintain their winning momentum, while England needs to address their shortcomings to compete effectively in sub-continental conditions.
England’s Improved Batting Effort Falls Short
Unlike their previous struggles, England managed to put up a respectable total of 304/9, thanks to a much-improved batting display. Joe Root (69) and Ben Duckett (65) stitched together a crucial partnership that provided England with a solid foundation. However, the middle order failed to capitalize on the platform, with only Liam Livingstone (41 off 32) showing some late resistance.
Ravindra Jadeja played a key role in stifling England’s scoring rate, picking up three crucial wickets while also affecting a vital run-out. Despite the efforts of Root and Duckett, England’s total seemed slightly below par, especially with the dew factor coming into play in the second innings.
Rohit Sharma’s Masterclass: A Knock to Remember
Chasing 305, India got off to a blazing start, courtesy of their captain Rohit Sharma. He silenced his critics with a breathtaking 119 off 90 balls, an innings laced with 12 boundaries and seven sixes. His aggressive approach in the powerplay set the tone for India’s chase, as he reached his fifty in just 30 balls.
Shubman Gill (60) played a supporting role, forming a formidable opening partnership with Rohit. The duo took apart England’s bowling attack, showing no mercy to Adil Rashid or any of the pacers. Rohit’s dominance was so overwhelming that at one point, it seemed like India would chase down the target with 15 overs to spare.
Speaking after the match, Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of middle-over strategies:
“It’s quite important, the game can go either side. If you manage and squeeze in the middle overs, it helps you not to worry at the death. In both the games, even in Nagpur, we squeezed in the middle overs and even here we squeezed in the middle overs. When you take wickets in the middle overs, you can contain the opposition.”
Middle-Order Contributions and Late Wobbles
After the openers’ departure, Shreyas Iyer contributed a steady 44 runs, ensuring that India remained in control. The team continued their experiment of promoting Axar Patel to No. 5, a move that paid off as he played a responsible knock of 41.
However, a few late wickets added a bit of drama to the chase. England tried to stage a comeback, but the damage had already been done. Despite the minor stumbles, India comfortably reached the target with 33 balls to spare.
England’s Struggles Continue
England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged the positives but admitted they needed to be more clinical:
“I thought we did a lot of things well, we got into a nice position with the bat. We needed someone to push on and get us to 350. Credit to Rohit, he batted superbly, he has been batting like this for a few years in ODI cricket. Just keep taking steps in the right direction, the results are not there, but we need to keep going and be positive.”
England has now suffered their fourth consecutive ODI series defeat since the 2023 World Cup. Their struggles against India in ODIs have been particularly stark:
- Seventh consecutive series loss in India in the last 20 years
- Ninth series loss in the last 10 white-ball series against India
- Most defeats in ODIs after scoring 300+ (28 losses in 99 matches)
Looking Ahead to the Final ODI and Champions Trophy
With the series wrapped up, India will aim for a clean sweep in the final ODI in Ahmedabad. The team looks in prime form ahead of the Champions Trophy, with their batting firing on all cylinders and the bowling unit delivering crucial breakthroughs.
England, on the other hand, needs to quickly rectify their issues, particularly in their middle-order batting and bowling strategies. Sub-continental conditions have historically troubled them, and they must adapt fast if they are to be competitive in the upcoming tournament.
Final Thoughts
India’s emphatic series win highlights their dominance over England and their preparedness for the Champions Trophy. Rohit Sharma’s authoritative batting display, along with a well-rounded team effort, has set the tone for future challenges. As the cricketing world gears up for the final ODI, one thing is clear—India are in supreme form, and England must regroup quickly if they want to challenge the best.
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