Mon Feb 10 11:16:12 UTC 2025: ## Rohit Sharma’s Century Powers India to Series Win Over England
**Cuttack, India:** Rohit Sharma smashed a magnificent 119 to lead India to a convincing four-wicket victory over England in the second ODI at Cuttack, securing an unassailable 2-0 series lead with one match remaining. Chasing England’s 304, Rohit and Shubman Gill (60) provided a solid foundation with a 136-run opening partnership. Rohit’s innings was studded with 12 fours and seven sixes, showcasing a return to form for the Indian captain. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel also contributed valuable runs to the chase.
Earlier, England posted 304 thanks to fifties from Joe Root and Ben Duckett, and contributions from Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone. Ravindra Jadeja was India’s most successful bowler, taking three wickets. While England’s opening partnership of 81 runs between Salt and Duckett threatened, India fought back effectively.
Rohit Sharma, speaking after his match-winning innings, highlighted his understanding of the ODI format and his ability to adapt his game according to the situation. He also surpassed Rahul Dravid to enter the top 10 ODI run-scorers list. His performance earned praise from fellow cricketers and commentators alike on social media.
England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged India’s strong performance, suggesting that a higher score might have been defendable. He also praised Rohit’s consistent excellence in ODI cricket.
The match also marked the ODI debut of Varun Chakaravarthy for India. The win marks Gautam Gambhir’s first ODI series victory as India’s head coach. The series victory comes amidst ongoing speculation surrounding the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah, with BCCI sources indicating a potential late replacement if he fails to regain fitness before the deadline.
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