Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Shine Despite India's ODI Loss to England
BCCI Vice President Praises Indian Batters
Rajeev Shukla, the Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), commended veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their outstanding performances during the third ODI against England at Lord's, despite India suffering a 27-run defeat that decided the series. The match turned into a high-scoring contest, with both teams amassing a total of 747 runs.
Rohit Sharma delivered an exceptional innings, scoring 138 runs off 110 balls, marking his 34th ODI century. This achievement made him the first Indian to score an ODI century at Lord's and set a record for the highest individual ODI score by an Indian against England in England, surpassing his previous record of 137 not out at Trent Bridge in 2018. He formed a solid opening partnership of 147 runs with Shubman Gill, who contributed 77 runs, and later added 113 runs with Kohli, who scored 74 runs off 60 balls.
Despite these impressive performances, India fell short, with England's explosive finish in the last three overs proving crucial. Jos Buttler's quickfire 41 runs off 13 balls and Joe Root's 74 runs off 48 balls propelled England to a record total of 387/3, the highest ODI score at Lord's, while India managed 360/7.
Rajeev Shukla Comments on the Match
In a statement, Rajeev Shukla remarked on the match's intensity, noting, "It was a hard-fought contest. They scored too many runs, particularly in the last three overs, which was a setback for us. Our batsmen performed admirably, especially the experienced players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who demonstrated their enduring talent. The highlights were undoubtedly the batting displays from Rohit, Kohli, and Shubman Gill. The team combination looks solid, but we faced challenges due to the high score set by England."
England Sets a New Record
England, batting first, achieved a remarkable total of 387/3, setting a new record for the highest ODI score at Lord's. The opening pair, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell, forged a significant 192-run partnership, establishing a strong foundation for the innings. Root's unbeaten 74 runs and Buttler's explosive finish contributed to the record total, while India's bowlers struggled, with Prasidh Krishna being the only notable wicket-taker with figures of 2/69.
India's Chase and Key Partnerships
In response, India faced a challenging target, with Rohit and Gill putting together a solid opening partnership of 147 runs. Rohit, in particular, silenced critics with his impressive 138 runs, which included 17 fours and five sixes. Kohli's contribution of 74 runs helped maintain the momentum, as the duo's partnership of 113 runs marked their 21st century stand in ODIs, placing them second on the all-time list behind Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
However, at 304/2, India seemed poised for a record chase, but a sudden collapse saw them lose three wickets for just 12 runs. Sam Curran's four-wicket haul was pivotal in turning the match in England's favor, while Jofra Archer's key wicket of KL Rahul further hindered India's progress.
A Day of Records
Earlier in the match, Duckett and Bethell's partnership of 192 runs was a highlight, with Bethell scoring 91 runs off 93 balls. Root's performance this year has been exceptional, with 496 runs in six ODIs at an average of 248.00, remaining unbeaten four times. The partnership between Root and Buttler in the final overs was particularly noteworthy, achieving a run rate of 19.89, the highest for a 50+ partnership against India in ODIs. India's bowlers faced challenges, conceding 126 runs in the final overs, marking one of their worst performances in that phase.