India captain Rohit Sharma shared insights into his approach after his match-winning century in the second ODI against England in Cuttack. The skipper hailed Shubman Gill as a “very classy player”, following their 136-run opening stand, which set the stage for India’s four-wicket win and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Rohit’s Masterclass in Cuttack
Rohit ended his rough patch in style, smashing 119 off 90 deliveries and dismantling England’s bowling attack. His controlled aggression, coupled with tactical shot selection, earned him the Player of the Match award.
“It was good, and I really enjoyed being out there, scoring some runs for the team. Important game with the series on the line, but I broke it down into pieces about how I wanted to bat. Longer than T20s and shorter than Tests, and I wanted to break it down,” Rohit said post-match.
Adapting to the pitch conditions, Rohit devised a calculated strategy to handle England’s attack.
“I wanted to bat as deep as possible, and that was my focus. When you play on black soil, it tends to skid on a bit, so you have to show the full face of the bat initially. Then they bowled into the body and kept it on the stumps, so I prepared my plan and tried to access the gaps,” he added.
Shubman Gill’s Impactful Knock
Gill backed his captain with a quickfire 60 off 52 balls, proving his worth after struggling in Australia. Rohit praised Gill’s composure and ability to handle high-pressure situations.
“Got very good support from Gill and Shreyas as well. Enjoy batting with Gill. Very classy player and doesn’t seem to get overawed by the situation, and the numbers are there as well, if I’m not wrong, for Gill,” he added.
England’s Strong Start & India’s Middle-Over Fightback
England got off to a blistering start, with Ben Duckett (75) and Philip Salt dominating the powerplay. However, India’s spinners—Ravindra Jadeja (3/35) and debutant Varun Chakravarthy (1/54)—controlled the middle overs, stifling England’s scoring.
“The middle overs are quite important, and that’s where the game can go either side. If you squeeze the middle overs, you need not worry much about the death overs,” Rohit explained.
India Eyes Clean Sweep in Ahmedabad
With the series already secured, India will face England in the third ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, aiming for a 3-0 whitewash.