Sun Feb 09 16:04:16 UTC 2025: ## Rohit Sharma’s Century Fuels India’s Chase in Thrilling ODI Against England
**Cuttack, India:** Rohit Sharma smashed a stunning 119 off 90 balls, including his 32nd ODI century, to power India’s chase against England in the second ODI at Cuttack. Despite a challenging 305-run target set by England, Sharma’s imperious knock, featuring seven sixes and nine fours, provided India with the crucial impetus needed for a potential series win.
Sharma’s innings was a masterclass of aggressive batting. He reached his half-century in a mere 30 balls and his century in 76, unfazed even by a near 30-minute interruption caused by faulty stadium lights. He partnered with Shubman Gill, who scored a quickfire 60 off 52 balls, for a whirlwind 136-run opening stand in just 100 balls. Gill’s innings ended with a near-perfect yorker from Jamie Overton.
England, despite a strong start from their openers Phil Salt (51) and Ben Duckett (57), failed to capitalize on promising partnerships. Harry Brook and Joe Root showed promise, putting on 66 runs before Brook’s dismissal. Jos Buttler and Root added another 51 runs, but Buttler’s dismissal (34) proved pivotal as England lost wickets in a late flurry, ultimately ending their innings at 304 in 49.5 overs. Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid’s late charge helped England past the 300-run mark.
While India lost Virat Kohli (caught behind off Adil Rashid), Shreyas Iyer (44) and KL Rahul contributed to the chase. However, the Indian team had its share of nervous moments due to a few run-outs. At the time of writing, India’s chase is very much on, the team having successfully negotiated the early hiccups to put them in a strong position to secure victory.
Despite the thrilling match, commentator Kevin Pietersen criticized England’s batting, suggesting a lack of hunger to push for a significantly larger score, saying they should have aimed for 350 runs. The match is a testament to Rohit Sharma’s resurgence and a reminder of his explosive capabilities.
First Piper 